File Photo/Somali Times
By MP Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib
I write this letter with the highest sense of national duty and legal obligation to inform you of a grave constitutional betrayal committed by the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the Speaker of the House of the People, Adan Mohamed Nur, in relation to the recently ratified Somalia – Turkey Oil and Gas Agreement signed in March 2024.
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Cc: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)
Cc: European Union Delegation to Somalia
Cc: Embassy of the United States of America in Somalia
Cc: Embassy of the United Kingdom in Somalia
Cc: African Union Mission in Somalia
Cc: World Bank Country Office – Somalia
Cc: International Monetary Fund (IMF) – Somalia Desk
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The oil and gas agreement between the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Turkey has sparked intense concern both nationally and internationally. Among its most troubling provisions are.
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Exclusive Rights granted to Turkey’s TPAO to explore, develop, and produce hydrocarbons across Somalia’s sovereign maritime and territorial zones.
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Revenue Sharing terms that allocate up to 90% of oil and gas revenues to Turkey under the guise of “cost recovery,” leaving Somalia with as little as 5% in royalties and no signing bonus.
Legal Jurisdiction being transferred to Turkish courts in the event of a dispute.
Security Oversight effectively outsourced to a foreign government, threatening Somalia’s constitutional command of national security.
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Despite repeated claims by the President and Speaker that Parliament was consulted, and that Somalia’s national interest was safeguarded in the agreement, I have come into possession of direct audio evidence that indisputably contradicts their public and official statements.
This audio recording captures a private phone conversation between the President and the Speaker – and was shared with me last week by a high-level senior official from Villa Somalia who was present in the room during the call. The content of the call confirms the following.
Full Awareness: Both the President and the Speaker explicitly discuss that Turkey would retain 90% of the oil and gas profits under the agreement, leaving Somalia with only 10%.
Deliberate Concealment: They both agreed to withhold the actual agreement text from Members of Parliament, referring to MPs as a “rubber stamp,” and planning to pass the deal without disclosure or deliberation.
Strategic Manipulation: They conspired to push the vote through “unanimously” by claiming the deal was a “security cooperation framework” rather than a binding extractives contract.
Under Article 54 and Article 71 of the Provisional Constitution of Somalia, all matters relating to the exploitation of natural resources and international agreements must be handled in full consultation with the Federal Parliament and in accordance with public interest. The deliberate falsification of the agreement’s nature and denial of MPs’ access to its contents constitute a direct breach of the Constitution and an act of high treason.
Furthermore, under Article 90 and Article 91, the President is required to act in accordance with the law, and any action that undermines the sovereignty and economic integrity of the state is subject to investigation, prosecution, and removal from office.
In light of this evidence, I respectfully request the following:
o Immediate Parliamentary Inquiry into the agreement’s legality, terms, and approval process.
Release and transcription of the audio recording to the parliamentary ethics and legal committee.
Suspension of the agreement’s implementation pending a full legal review.
Initiation of Impeachment Proceedings against both the President and the Speaker for acts of constitutional betrayal and gross abuse of public office.
Somalia is a sovereign nation whose resources belong to its people – not to foreign interests or to leaders willing to sell our future for personal or political gain. This case represents a fundamental breach of the social contract between the government and the people. We must act swiftly to uphold the rule of law, protect national sovereignty, and prevent future exploitation of our strategic assets.
Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib – BA, MA, MASc, Ph.D
Member of Foreign Affairs Committee
Federal Republic of Somalia the House of People
Mogadishu, Somalia
MP- HOP #201 Awdal Region and Gebileh District
Leader of the Accountability and Transparency Caucus of the House of People