he president of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey have officially announced that Somalia offshore oil drilling in the coastal waters will commence in 2026.

A move that is set to redefine the geopolitical and economic landscape in the Horn of Africa as Somalia is set to join 15 countries in Africa that are actively drilling oil. President Erdogan revealed that Türkiye is preparing to commence deep-sea hydrocarbon drilling by 2026 after the completion of seismic surveys.

President Mohamud echoed the sentiments of his counterpart and noted that the discovery is a long-term project that is set to revolutionize the economy of Somalia. “This marks a significant milestone in Somalia’s economic recovery, and preparations are underway to proceed to the next phase of drilling along the maritime areas of the Somali coastline,” said President Mohamud.

Their discussions also reaffirmed Turkey’s role in training Somali security forces and supporting the ongoing war against Al-Shabaab. Turkey’s president highlighted the immense growth the Turkish Army has had through training offered at the Turkish military training center.

Turkey has also committed to enhancing cooperation in infrastructure and technology and urban infrastructure.