President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced that Somalia is now decisively charting a new course toward harnessing the vast wealth of its oceans, a move he says will redefine the nation’s economic future.
Speaking yesterday at the inauguration of the new central headquarters for the Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport, the President declared that the 21st century will be the moment Somalia aligns its traditional livelihoods with its immense natural blessings. He emphasized that the sea, long overlooked, is where the nation’s future prosperity and development now lie.
“Our sea is twice the size of our land,” President Mohamud stated. “The question has always been how to benefit from it and use it properly. For too long, there has been a disconnect between our way of life, our culture, and the abundant wealth God has given us.”
The president outlined that the federal government will give special priority to securing maritime zones, protecting natural resources, and preventing environmental damage to ensure future generations can benefit from the Somali seabed. He stressed that marine conservation is a key component of the government’s sustainable management plans.
In a definitive step toward realizing this vision, the president confirmed that Somalia has officially commenced its first-ever formal offshore oil drilling at the Curad-1 well. He declared that the government is fully committed to making the Somali Sea the backbone of national economic growth.