Istanbul (Somalia Today) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Tuesday that Ankara will begin offshore oil drilling in Somalia in 2026 and establish a spaceport, deepening a strategic alliance that now extends from the seabed to the stars.
The announcement came during a joint press conference in Istanbul with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, where both leaders framed the agreements as vital for Somalia’s economic sovereignty.
The talks also served as a unified diplomatic front against Israel’s recent decision to recognize the breakaway region of Somaliland, a move Erdoğan condemned as “illegitimate.”
“We plan to begin drilling operations in 2026,” Erdoğan said, marking a new phase in the partnership. “We are confident these operations will bring significant benefits to the Somali people.”
The deal represents a major expansion of Türkiye’s footprint in the Horn of Africa, evolving from humanitarian aid and military training to high-stakes infrastructure and energy development.
Survey to drilling
The energy pact hinges on the findings of the Turkish seismic research vessel Oruç Reis, which recently completed a nine-month survey of Somali waters. Erdoğan confirmed that the data collected from a 4,465-square-kilometer offshore block has paved the way for extraction.
Furthermore, he noted that Türkiye has bolstered its energy fleet with two new deep-sea drilling ships. These vessels, capable of operating at extreme depths, allow Ankara to pursue simultaneous operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and now the Indian Ocean.
For Somalia, the project promises a potential economic lifeline. President Mohamud described the upcoming drilling as a “historic victory” that would fund essential services and reconstruction.
“The success of oil exploration is a national victory,” Mohamud said. “It is key to rebuilding the nation and achieving prosperity for the Somali people.”
Mohamud emphasized that his administration would manage the resources based on “inter-generational equity,” ensuring that wealth from the seabed benefits future generations rather than fueling corruption.
He outlined a strategy built on three pillars—safeguarding territorial integrity, defeating terrorism, and building strong state institutions—which he argued are the prerequisites for sustainable economic growth.
“This is not only about hydrocarbons,” Mohamud added. “It is about jobs, education, and dignity for the Somali people.”
New frontier
Meanwhile, alongside the energy news, Erdoğan revealed that the two nations have agreed to establish a spaceport in Somali territory. The project, managed by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), adds a futuristic dimension to the partnership.
“Under the agreements we have signed, we plan to establish a spaceport in Somalia,” Erdoğan said, confirming that the project is already underway. “We have completed the planning for the first phase… and construction has begun.”
If realized, the facility would make Somalia the first African country to host a Turkish-operated space launch site, helping to develop “launch and satellite technologies” for both nations.
Somaliland fallout
The economic announcements were shadowed by rising diplomatic tensions in the Red Sea region. Both leaders used the platform to sharply criticize Israel, which on Friday became the first nation to formally recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state.
Erdoğan slammed the decision as a violation of international law and a destabilizing act in an already volatile region.
“Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland is illegitimate and unacceptable,” Erdoğan said. He accused the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to “drag the Horn of Africa into instability” after its campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.
“Preservation of Somalia’s unity and integrity is a priority issue for us,” Erdoğan added.
Likewise, President Mohamud echoed these sentiments, thanking Türkiye for its “unwavering support.” He characterized the recognition of Somaliland—which declared independence in 1991 but remains unrecognized by the UN—as a direct assault on Somalia’s sovereignty.
Türkiye’s footprint
The agreements cement Türkiye’s role as Somalia’s most critical international partner. Since Erdoğan’s landmark visit to Mogadishu in 2011 during a devastating famine, Ankara has evolved from a humanitarian aid provider to a strategic investor.
Turkish companies currently operate Mogadishu’s port and airport, while the TURKSOM military base trains elite Somali commando units.
Erdoğan pledged that this support would continue through agencies like the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay), the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
By contrast, Somaliland, which controls the northern coast along the Gulf of Aden, views its deal with Israel as a breakthrough for its own international legitimacy.
However, Mogadishu considers any direct engagement with Hargeisa that bypasses the federal government as illegal.
Finally, as the press conference concluded, Mohamud stressed that Somalia is “emerging from the shadows” of its troubled past.
“We are working to defend our country from those who wish to violate its sovereignty,” he said. “But that does not distract us from extracting our resources.”
Erdoğan closed the session with a remark that encapsulated the widening scope of the alliance.
“Together with our Somali brothers, we are not only exploring the depths of the sea,” Erdoğan said, “but also reaching for the heights of space.”
