MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced on Monday that the country will begin drilling its first oil block in the coming months, alongside ambitious plans to host Africa’s first satellite launch base, despite a backdrop of political tension and governance challenges.
“In the coming months, God willing, drilling will commence on our nation’s first oil block. We are set to embark on a bold transformation of our economic infrastructure – expanding roads, modernizing airports, and developing major ports. This includes the construction of Africa’s first satellite launch base,” President Mohamud said in his opening address to the new session of parliament.
The president’s speech, filled with grand development promises, has drawn criticism from opposition figures and analysts who argue that his administration is mired in deepening political and security crises. Critics labeled the speech as overly ambitious and disconnected from the country’s current realities.
The oil blocks referred to by the president were recently surveyed by Turkey. Although the survey work concluded earlier this year along several coastal oil blocks, the findings have yet to be made public.
The oil exploration follows a bilateral agreement between Mogadishu and Ankara, granting Turkey a controversial profit-sharing deal that allocates more than 90% of revenues from oil production in Somalia’s waters to Turkey. While the Somali government kept the deal’s specifics under wraps, details emerged after debate in the Turkish parliament.
In a rare conciliatory tone, President Mohamud also pledged to open dialogue with the administrations of Jubaland and Puntland, two federal member states that have long been at odds with his government. The move appears aimed at finding a resolution to a protracted political standoff and preparing the country for upcoming elections.
However, the president stood firm on his push for a one-person, one-vote electoral model – a significant shift from Somalia’s longstanding system of indirect elections. He reiterated his commitment to this model, despite strong opposition from regional leaders and political opponents who argue that such elections are not feasible under current conditions.
Their concerns include the absence of a legal framework, limited government control outside Mogadishu, time constraints with only a few months left in Mohamud’s term, and severe financial limitations.
Opposition leaders and some regional administrations, notably Jubaland and Puntland, insist that the president’s push is a pretext for a term extension.
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