By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Turkey, 29 December 2025 Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed and Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar today met in Istanbul to discuss expanding energy cooperation between the two countries.
Bayraktar stated that the discussions focused on the current status of hydrocarbon exploration activities carried out jointly by the two countries in Somalia's land and maritime zones. They also reviewed operational plans for the upcoming period, aiming to enhance the efficiency and scope of energy exploration in Somalia.
The meeting comes ahead of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's visit to Turkey, on Tuesday, highlighting the growing importance of energy cooperation between the two nations. The talks also covered potential investments, technical cooperation, and future joint projects that could open new opportunities for both countries in the energy sector.
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“We are building energy cooperation between Turkey and Somalia on solid foundations,” said Bayraktar. “Somalia is one of our key partners in Africa, and we believe that our collaboration in the hydrocarbons sector will open the door to a new era of growth and prosperity for both countries,” he added.
The partnership comes at a crucial time as both countries seek to expand their energy resources. Turkey’s growing role as an energy player in the region, combined with Somalia’s untapped reserves, makes the collaboration strategically important.
The two ministers also discussed other areas of cooperation, including infrastructure development, trade, and security. With Somalia’s ongoing recovery efforts, both countries are planning to collaborate on key joint projects such as transportation, water infrastructure, and sustainable energy solutions.
