Mogadishu: Somalia's first offshore oil drilling campaign carries both economic and geopolitical significance, said a top Somali official on Sunday. 'If successful, it could strengthen Somalia's prospects for resource-led growth while also reinforcing Trkiye's role as a trusted long-term partner in the country's development,' Ali Omar, the state minister for foreign affairs, said in a statement. He said it is a moment that could reshape Somalia's economic horizon and regional energy dynamics.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Turkish drill ship Cagri Bey has arrived in Somalia's territorial waters to commence the first offshore drilling effort in the country. The Cagri Bey, which departed from the southern port of Tasucu in Mersin in February, is expected to begin drilling at the Curad-1 well this month.

In 2024, Trkiye and Somalia signed agreements covering both onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration. The Turkish seismic vessel Oruc Reis had previously completed surveys in three offshore blocks, paving the way for this significant development in Somalia's energy sector.