Somalia’s Secretive Oil Deal with Turkey Sparks Outrage, Deepens Political and Security Concerns

Mogadishu – Somalia’s parliamentary Natural Resources Committee has issued a strong statement opposing a secretive oil and gas deal recently signed with Turkey, amid growing public backlash and political tensions. The deal, reportedly signed by former petroleum minister Abdirisak Omar Mohamed in early 2024, grants Ankara an astonishing 90% share of offshore oil and gas revenues, while Somalia would receive just 5%.

In a statement released Thursday, the committee criticized the agreement for being concluded without prior consultation or approval from Parliament. “Lawmakers were not informed of the deal,” the statement read, accusing the former minister of violating Somalia’s legal and constitutional frameworks. Members of the committee said the deal was “pushed through without proper scrutiny,” adding that civil society and the general public only recently became aware of the agreement through leaked documents.

“The fact that Turkey gets the lion’s share while Somalia receives just 5% is unacceptable and shocking,” said one committee member. “This arrangement raises serious questions about whose interest this deal really serves — certainly not the Somali people.”

Moreover, the timing of the deal has heightened national concern as the country is already experiencing a deepening security crisis. Al-Shabaab militants have recaptured the strategic town of Aadan Yabaal and launched a significant attack on Baidoa, underscoring the fragile state of Somalia’s federal security apparatus. Meanwhile, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is facing heavy criticism for sidelining key regional allies, making controversial security appointments — including a potential shake-up at NISA — and proceeding with a unilateral election process.

Opposition figures and analysts argue that the lack of transparency and inclusivity in major decisions like the oil deal with Turkey only serve to worsen internal divisions and undermine national stability. The current environment, they warn, is one of growing mistrust between the federal government and member states, at a time when Somalia needs a unified strategy to combat terrorism, manage its natural resources responsibly, and rebuild public confidence.

As the outrage grows, observers are calling for the suspension of the deal, a full investigation into how it was reached, and broader dialogue on natural resource governance to ensure that Somalia’s assets benefit its people — not foreign powers or select political elites.