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Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Türkiye’s deep-sea drilling vessel Cagri Bey, set to begin operations off the Somali coast, carries historic importance for bringing the country’s natural resources into the economy and accelerating national development.
In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Barre said the Somali people have long waited for the country’s natural resource wealth to translate into tangible benefits.
He said generations of Somalis grew up hearing that “Somalia is rich in natural resources” and waited years for promises of extraction to materialize.
"That wait is ending. Better days are on the horizon," Barre said.
Barre thanked Türkiye for selecting Somalia as the first destination beyond its own waters for the drilling mission.
“We thank our Turkish brothers, led by H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for choosing Somalia as the first destination of Türkiye’s historic deep-sea drilling mission beyond its own waters," he said.
“This decision is more than strategic—it is a symbol of trust crossing distances and a testament to the evolving partnership between Türkiye and Somalia, rooted in brotherhood and a shared belief in a better tomorrow,” Barre added.
He said the start of operations by the Cagri Bey marks the beginning of a major economic transformation for Somalia.
“Today, with Cagri Bey, we may be witnessing the beginning of something greater—the opening chapter of real economic transformation. A moment when our natural wealth begins to translate into national strength and when resources finally deliver the impact our people have long deserved,” Barre said.
“Our administration stands ready to turn vision into reality, to transform potential into proof, and to ensure that this journey is not only historic, but truly transformative,” he added.
Türkiye’s drilling ship Cagri Bey began operations for oil exploration in Somalia on Feb. 15, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said, as Ankara expands oil and natural gas exploration both domestically and abroad.
The Cagri Bey drilling vessel had been expected to depart later this month and will travel via the Gibraltar Strait and South Africa to reach Somali waters.
Drilling operations are expected to begin in the April-May period.
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