Somalia will begin drilling its first oil block in the coming months as part of a wider push to harness natural resources and modernize its economy, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told lawmakers on Monday.
Speaking at the opening of the 7th session of the House of the People and the Upper House, Mohamud said the initiative follows seismic surveys carried out in October 2024 by the Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis in areas where Türkiye holds offshore exploration licenses.
“This is a significant step for Somalia to fully harness its natural wealth and transform it into economic opportunity and social progress,” Mohamud said.
Beyond oil, the president announced plans to establish Africa’s first satellite launch station with Turkish support. He said the project is part of a broader infrastructure push that includes building new roads, airports, and seaports aimed at positioning Somalia as a regional hub for trade and technology.
Mohamud also highlighted improvements in national security, noting that the federal government now covers the salaries of about 100,000 soldiers, civil servants, and teachers entirely through domestic revenue. He credited recent tax reforms and legislation passed by Parliament that secured international debt relief and advanced constitutional reforms that had stalled for years.
“Our commitment is to use the wealth God has blessed Somalia with to drive growth and stability,” the president told Parliament. He pledged to continue dialogue with political stakeholders and citizens to strengthen unity and maintain momentum in the state-building process.
