Mogadishu (Kaab TV) — Somalia’s federal government and four regional state administrations have reached an agreement to deepen cooperation and jointly oversee the country’s petroleum and mineral resources, a move aimed at easing long-standing political divisions in a sector viewed as vital to future national revenue.
The agreement was announced Monday at the end of a three-day conference in Mogadishu that brought together the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and representatives from regional petroleum authorities. Federal Minister of Petroleum Dahir Shire Mohamed said the talks reinforced national unity, constitutional collaboration, and shared decision-making in the management of natural resources.
“We have once again agreed to reject division and work together to ensure that petroleum and mineral resources are developed collectively,” Dahir told reporters, stressing that all decisions would be guided by the common interests of the Somali people.
Officials said the meeting focused on improving coordination between federal and state institutions, with commitments to implement national laws, regulations, and policies governing the sector while adhering to the constitution. Discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen data protection and security related to resource activities, alongside building technical capacity through training and skills development.
Participants agreed that all petroleum and mineral operations should serve the public interest and be carried out with a strong sense of national responsibility. Government officials described the outcome as a positive step toward rebuilding trust between federal and regional authorities and ensuring that Somalia’s natural resources benefit citizens nationwide.
Puntland and Jubbaland did not attend the conference, as both administrations continue to boycott cooperation with the federal government amid wider political disputes, reflecting ongoing tensions over resource governance.
The conference took place shortly after Turkey’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced plans to deploy a drilling vessel to Somalia in February, marking Turkey’s first overseas deepwater energy exploration project. Bayraktar said the Cagri Bey drilling ship would operate in offshore areas within Somalia’s territorial waters, though he did not provide details on potential reserves or investment.
Somalia has long regarded its offshore oil and gas potential as a cornerstone of economic recovery, but progress has been hindered by insecurity, political disagreements between federal and regional authorities, and the lack of a fully agreed resource-sharing framework.