Friday, June 27, 2025 — HAN
Ankara — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on Thursday with Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Marine Transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, in Ankara, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. The meeting, held behind closed doors in the Turkish capital, concluded without further details being made public.
Earlier this week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also held discussions with Minister Nur. While no official statements were issued, talks are believed to have focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in maritime infrastructure and energy development.
These high-level meetings come as maritime ties between Türkiye and Somalia continue to deepen, following the deployment of Türkiye’s Oruc Reis seismic exploration vessel to Somali waters. According to the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the Turkish-built ship recently completed its first intercontinental mission, conducting a three-dimensional seismic survey across three offshore blocks covering 4,464 square kilometers.
The survey, which began on October 25, 2024, aims to assess Somalia’s offshore energy reserves. The data gathered will now be analyzed in Ankara to determine the potential for oil and natural gas exploration — a development that could help unlock Somalia’s long-untapped energy resources.
This emerging energy partnership highlights Türkiye’s growing strategic engagement in the Horn of Africa, while supporting Somalia’s efforts to develop its blue economy and attract much-needed foreign investment.
