Somalia says it is ready to begin its first offshore oil drilling operations, with a Turkish government-owned drilling ship expected to arrive off its coast on Friday.
The move follows the successful completion of seismic surveys last year by a Turkish research vessel.
In a post on X, Somalia's Petroleum Minister Dahir Shire described the move toward what would be the country's first offshore drilling as a "historic milestone in our offshore energy journey... A new chapter begins."
The foreign ministry said if the drilling were to be successful, it would unlock offshore oil reserves and support the country's economic recovery as a regional energy player.
The Turkish Petroleum Corporation's drilling ship, Çağrı Bey, is on its first international mission, heading into Somalia's territorial waters in the Arabian Sea.
It will carry out deep water drilling at sites identified by recent surveys that mapped the country's hydrocarbon potential.
"This signals Somalia's readiness to move into exploratory drilling, beginning with our most promising offshore prospects," Shire said.
He added that the country would ensure that the benefits of the oil drilling leads to national prosperity and improves the well-being of the people.
Turkey and Somalia formalised their cooperation in 2024 through a production-sharing agreement.
On Monday, Somali Foreign Minister Ali Omar said the oil drilling campaign would reinforce Turkey's role as a "trusted long-term partner" in development.
Speaking on Saturday ahead of his planned travel to Somalia, Turkey's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said any discovery of oil or gas reserves would bring significant economic benefits to Somalia, East Africa and Turkey.
Ankara has been deepening its ties with Somalia and has invested in the country for more than a decade. It has also expanded its military presence there in recent years, where it already operates a major base built in 2017.
Researchers estimate the country holds billions of barrels of oil reserves, but exploration has been hampered by decades of conflict and political instability.
More BBC stories on Somalia:
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC Africa podcasts
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Governors Ball 2026: Lorde, A$AP Rocky and Stray Kids set to headline - 2China’s new condom tax will prove no effective barrier to country’s declining fertility rate
- 3Scientists dove hundreds of feet into the ocean and found creatures no human has ever seen. Our trash beat us there
- 4Embrace the Outside: Exercises and Entertainment
- 5Astronauts on the ISS watched NASA's historic Artemis 2 launch from space
- Why ordering takeout or calling the dog walker might lead to a happier relationship
- Factbox-China's crewed lunar programme eyes astronaut landing by 2030
- Evidence of lost baptismal rite stage uncovered in Byzantine era cathedral near Sea of Galilee
- U.S. to drop childhood vaccine recommendations as it looks to Denmark, Washington Post reports
- The most effective method to Help a Friend or family member Determined to have Cellular breakdown in the lungs
- CDC studies show value of nationwide wastewater disease surveillance, as potential funding cut looms
- Best Streaming Gadget for Your Home Theater
- Nigeria warns its citizens in South Africa to be cautious after march turns violent
- Manual for Tracking down the Nearby Business sectors and Marketplaces
