Somalia Launches First Offshore Oil Drilling Project with Turkish Vessel “Cagri Bey”

Somalia, 10 April 2026

Somalia has announced the launch of its first oil drilling project after the Turkish drilling vessel “Cagri Bey” arrived in Mogadishu to begin deep-water operations, in a move officials described as a historic milestone for the country’s energy sector.

The vessel was officially received in Mogadishu on Friday during a ceremony attended by senior Somali officials and a Turkish delegation led by Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, marking the start of drilling activities in Somali territorial waters.

Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi described the development as a long-awaited moment.

“This is a historic day that many Somalis around the world have been hoping to witness. For those present, it is a long-awaited dream that has now become reality,” he said.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the project had faced multiple challenges and pressures before reaching the implementation stage.

“We faced numerous difficulties, pressures, and obstacles aimed at discouraging us, but we ultimately managed to overcome them,” he said.

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For his part, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the development follows years of exploration work.

“With this historic step, a new phase in oil and natural gas exploration begins. Turkey will carry out its first deep-water drilling operation outside its territory here in Somalia,” he said.

The “Cagri Bey” vessel departed Turkey on February 15 and arrived in Somalia after weeks at sea. It is capable of drilling to depths of up to 12,000 meters, making it suitable for deep offshore exploration.

The move follows earlier seismic surveys conducted by the vessel “Oruc Reis,” which indicated the presence of potential hydrocarbon reserves in Somali waters.

The first drilling site, known as “Curad-1,” is located approximately 372 kilometers off the coast of Somalia, according to officials, who did not disclose precise coordinates.