Tuesday February 17, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Monday hailed Türkiye’s launch of a deep-sea drilling mission off Somalia’s coast as a historic milestone, saying it could mark the start of long-awaited economic transformation.
Barre’s remarks came as Türkiye’s drillship Cagri Bey sails toward Somalia to begin Ankara’s first offshore energy exploration mission outside its own maritime zone.
“Today, with Cagri Bey, we may be witnessing the beginning of something greater the opening chapter of real economic transformation,” Barre wrote on his official X account.
He said Somalia’s natural resources have long been viewed as a source of potential prosperity but had yet to deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
“Generations of our people have grown up hearing that Somalia is rich in resources; yet for decades they have waited to see that promise fulfilled. That wait is ending. Better days are on the horizon,” he said.
Barre thanked the Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for selecting Somalia as the destination for the mission.
“This decision is more than strategic; it is a symbol of trust crossing distances and a testament to the evolving partnership between Türkiye and Somalia, rooted in brotherhood and a shared belief in a better tomorrow,” he added.
Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, described the deployment as a “historic moment” in Ankara’s oil and gas strategy. Speaking at a ceremony at Tasucu port in Mersin province, he said the vessel would begin drilling in April at the Curad-1 well off Somalia’s coast.
The Cagri Bey, which departed from Tasucu on Sunday, is expected to reach Mogadishu in approximately 45 days. It will then proceed to drill at the designated offshore site.
Türkiye and Somalia signed energy agreements in 2024 covering onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration. A Turkish seismic research vessel, Oruc Reis, previously completed surveys in three offshore blocks as part of preparatory work for drilling.
The offshore project represents the most significant step yet in Somalia’s efforts to formally develop its hydrocarbon resources, while deepening its strategic partnership with Ankara in defense, infrastructure and energy sectors.