Turkish President Erdogan Says Turkey Invited By Somalia To Explore For Oil

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reacts during a news conference in Ankara, Turkey January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

Middle East Eye: Turkey invited by Somalia to explore for oil, says Erdogan

The Turkish president's comments come amid growing efforts to develop oil exploration in the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Somalia had invited Turkey to conduct energy drilling and exploration operations in its seas.

“We had a proposal from Somalia. They said that Somalia had oil in its seas. [They said] as in Libya, [we] could do the same [drilling operations] in [Somalia],” Erdogan told journalists on the presidential plane returning from a summit in Berlin on Sunday, where world powers discussed the situation in Libya.

Erdogan said Ankara was intending to honour the invitation. “There would be steps that we will take there. This is something beneficial for us,” he said.

According to seismic data processing firm Seismic Geo, there is a high potential for hydrocarbon exploration off Somalia's shores. The country last week passed a new petroleum law to attract foreign investment in the energy sector from giant firms such as ExxonMobil and Shell.

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WNU Editor: Somalia, like Libya, is a war-zone. Good luck to Turkey if they think they can develop an oil field in such an environment.

Turkey Opens Its Largest Overseas Military Base In Somalia

VOA: Turkey Opens Largest Foreign Military Base in Mogadishu

WASHINGTON — Turkey’s largest foreign military base in the world opened Saturday in Mogadishu, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Somali leaders, top Turkish military officials and diplomats.

Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and the head of the Turkish military, General Hulusi Akar have jointly inaugurated the 4 square kilometer (1.54 square mile) facility, which holds three military residential complexes, training venues, and sports courts. It had been under construction for the last two years.

General Akar said the base is the biggest sign of how Turkey wants to help Somalia.

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More News On Turkey Opening Its Largest Overseas Military Base In Somalia

Turkey opens military base in Mogadishu to train Somali soldiers -- Reuters
Turkey Opens Military Training Base in Somalia Capital -- US News and World Report/AP
Turkey opens $50m training camp for Somali Army -- Arab News
Somalia hosts Turkey's largest overseas military base -- Africanews
Turkey opens its largest overseas military base in Africa -- RT

Turkey To Assist In the War Against Al-Shabaab? Turkish Military's First Base In Africa Will Train African Soldiers

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (C) stand in front of their countries' national flags. March, 2012. PHOTO: REUTERS

IBTimes: Turkey Helping Somalia Fight Al-Shabab? Turkish Military's First Base In Africa Will Train African Soldiers

Turkey is set to open a military base in Somalia to help train African soldiers to fight the al-Shabab militant group, the pro-government Daily Sabah reported Tuesday. The announcement comes several months after Turkish officials announced plans to establish their first military base abroad in Qatar at a time the country has seen growing regional threats.

"This military training center will also be an important base to provide military training to all of Africa," Emil Tekin, an official from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said last week, according to Daily Sabah. An agreement between the Turkish and Somali governments includes plans for 200 Turkish officers to train more than 1,500 Somali troops. Soldiers from other African countries will also be trained at the site, which will be located in the capital Mogadishu. Turkey also plans to build a military school, officials said.

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WNU Editor: This Turkish involvement in Somalia goes back years .... Why Turkey is Coming to Somalia's Aid (Daniel Tovrov, IBTimes). Turkey is also opening a military base in Qatar .... Turkey to open military bases in Qatar and Somalia (Diplomat.so).

More News On Turkey Opening A Military Base In Somalia

First Turkish military base in Africa to open in Somalia -- Daily Sabah
Turkey to Build Second Foreign Military Base in Somalia -- Sputnik
Turkish army establishing military base in Somalia: Report -- Press TV
Turkey to establish military base in Somalia -- Airforce-Technology