Turkey launches first overseas drilling mission in Somalia: What to know

A drilling ship has reached Somalia to start Turkey's first overseas drilling mission as regional rivalry heats up in the Horn of Africa.

Ezgi Akin

Apr 9, 2026

ANKARA — A Turkish deep-sea drilling vessel arrived at Somalia's Port of Mogadishu on Thursday to launch Ankara’s first overseas hydrocarbon drilling mission as regional rivalry in the Horn of Africa intensifies alongside internal political rifts within Somalia.

What happened: Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Thursday that the Turkish drilling vessel Cagri Bey had arrived in Somali waters for what he described as a “historic mission,” marking Turkey’s first deep-sea drilling operation beyond its borders.

The venture will open “a brand new chapter in the energy history of both Turkey and Somalia,” he wrote........

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