MOGADISHU (SD) President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has defended the recent oil agreement between Somalia and Turkey, stating that it is based on “shared benefits.”

The President noted that no other country had previously engaged Somalia in discussions about its offshore and onshore oil and gas resources, making this the first time in history that oil exploration is being conducted in Somalia.

“Offshore oil exploration is currently underway, as you have seen, and now we have signed the onshore agreement. The purpose is not to exclusively grant this opportunity to Turkey alone, but rather, they are the only country that expressed interest and the only one willing to invest,” he said.

He emphasized that since Turkey is the most advanced partner in this endeavor, it would be unfair to compare it to other companies or nations that might return a decade later—when Somalia becomes an oil-producing country.

The President highlighted the long-standing relationship between Somalia and Turkey, noting that Turkey plays a mediatory role whenever Somalia has disputes with neighboring countries.

In recent days, Somali social media has been abuzz with debates following a report by Nordic Monitor, an investigative journalism outlet focused on counterterrorism and research. The report detailed an alleged agreement signed last year between Somalia and Turkey concerning Somalia’s oil production.

Key clauses in the reported agreement include Implementation procedures and the operational framework.

Revenue-sharing terms, where Turkey would receive 90% of the oil profits, while Somalia would only get 5%.

This distribution has raised concerns among Somalis, prompting discussions on whether the deal truly serves the nation’s best interests.