Attention has shifted to Istanbul, Türkiye, after the arrival of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud this morning, who is set to have a series of high-level talks with his counterpart, Turkish President Recep Tayyip, on security cooperation and offshore energy exploration.

The strategic visit comes amid growing tensions over Somaliland and the recent denouncing of Somaliland sovereignty by the United Nations Security Council, a move that might cool the diplomatic row that was brewing in the Horn of Africa.

Sources have revealed that an imminent announcement will be given after the meeting following the conclusion of a seismic survey in October.

Türkiye’s energy and natural resources minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, last week Wednesday in a press conference said three offshore blocks, each covering approximately 5000 kilometers, had been allocated to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation.

Somalia is looking to reduce its overdependency on international aid by deepening its bilateral ties with Türkiye, and Ankara is being seen as one of its main primary sovereignty guarantors.

Türkiye has deep ties to Somalia, and in 2011 President Erdogan became the 1st non-African leader to visit Mogadishu in nearly 20 years. Türkiye heavily partnered with Somalia in humanitarian aid back in 2011-2016 in famine relief and infrastructure, where they constructed schools, hospitals, and the Mogadishu Airport.

The Ankara government has also partnered with Somalia in counterterrorism efforts for the last 6 years, during which an elite Turkish military base training facility was constructed in Mogadishu. Türkiye has been a key partner in maritime defense in Somalia.