MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, on Monday affirmed that the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources will guide the nation toward economic prosperity, emphasizing the numerous oil exploration agreements it has established with various countries, some of which remain undisclosed to legislative bodies.
During a ceremony in which former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, formally handed over his responsibilities to the new minister, Dahir Shire Mohamed, the Prime Minister underscored that it is now time for Somalia to leverage its abundant natural resources to rebuild the critical infrastructure that was lost during three decades of civil war.
“I envision this ministry as the driving force behind a clear, sustainable, and reliable economic path for the Somali people, particularly in light of the immense challenges we have faced and the widespread collapse of vital infrastructure,” he stated.
These remarks follow closely after the arrival of a Turkish oil exploration vessel off the Somali coast, which is set to conduct 3D seismic studies and explore the potential for oil reserves—an aspiration that Somali authorities hope will be realized within the coming years. However, concerns persist that the pursuit of oil production, if undertaken without a national consensus and true reconciliation amidst ongoing political discord and intensifying conflicts, could lead Somalia back to the devastating collapse of 1991, when the nation fractured and clans engaged in violent conflict.
