Somalia-Turkey Oil Deal: MP Questions Who Really Benefits

By Maher Ahmed - Reporter

Somalia, 10 April 2026 A prominent Somali opposition lawmaker is questioning a recently signed oil agreement with Turkey, warning it may not serve Somalia’s national interest as a Turkish vessel prepares to commence drilling off Somalia's coast.

In an opinion piece published on Friday in Dawan Media Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame said the terms of the deal appear to favour Turkey over Somalia, warning that the arrangement “risks disadvantaging Somalia’s long-term national interest”.

He pointed to open-ended cost recovery provisions, saying they could delay meaningful national revenue, a structure commonly seen in extractive agreements where companies recover costs before governments receive significant returns.

He also raised concerns over what he described as limited commitments to local employment and domestic economic participation, questioning the extent to which Somali workers and businesses would benefit from the offshore exploration activities.

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On the process, Warsame said the agreement was reached without full transparency, without consultation with federal member states, and without parliamentary approval as required under Somalia’s constitutional framework.

He warned Turkey that its long-standing engagement in Somalia could be undermined if cooperation is not anchored in institutions rather than individuals.

“Enduring partnerships are not built on expediency,” Warsame wrote. “They are grounded in legitimacy, balance, and respect for the people whose resources are at stake.”

The Somali government has not publicly responded to the concerns raised.