MOGADISHU—The incumbent President of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, received a high-level delegation headed by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Alparslan Bayraktar, at the Presidential Palace-Villa Somalia on Friday. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed strategic bilateral ties between their countries, with a focus on cooperation in the areas of energy, natural resources, and the blue economy. President Hassan emphasized the strong cooperation between Somalia and Turkey in the energy sector, which has reached a historic level and is a source of pride for both nations. He also highlighted the arrival of the Turkish oil drilling vessel, Cagri Bay, as a significant step towards improving Somalia’s economy, creating jobs, and utilizing its abundant natural resources on land and at sea. Minister Bayratar expressed gratitude for the warm reception from the Somali President and people, and noted that the arrival of Cagri Bay and the start of oil drilling is a concrete example of the energy cooperation between the two countries. In a separate event in Mogadishu, President Hassan officially unveiled the arrival of Cagri Bay and the start of oil drilling in Somalia. In his speech, he stated that this marks a new stage of development for the country, with tangible prospects for economic growth. He acknowledged that the journey towards oil exploration began in 2013, but faced internal and external obstacles. Despite these challenges, the Somali government remained committed to pursuing the exploitation of its natural resources. President Hassan stressed that Somalia has long suffered from poverty, famine, and insecurity, despite its abundance of natural resources. He emphasized the importance of economic power in strengthening government institutions and achieving statehood. He praised Turkey for being the only ally that has actively participated in the oil exploration and drilling in Somalia, while other countries have been hesitant due to security concerns. He assured that the Somali government will effectively and efficiently manage the natural resources, and will respect agreements in the best interest of the nation. He also stated that the profits from oil drilling will be shared equally among the Somali people, regardless of their location. He urged the public to refrain from spreading false information and to trust in the country’s future, as Somalia is open for investment and has laws in place to protect investors and the rights of its people. He concluded by expressing his belief in a bright future for Somalia, based on the investment of its natural resources, and called for unity and collective efforts to achieve this vision.
