Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi dismisses Petroleum Minister in cabinet reshuffle

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Sunday dismissed Petroleum Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, a close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in a cabinet reshuffle that also saw two other ministers swap portfolios in the latest restructuring of his government.

Dahir Shire Mohamed has been appointed to replace the sacked Abdirizak as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

General Bashir Mohamed Jama "Goobe" has been named the new Minister of Environment and Climate Change, swapping positions with Khadija Al-Makhzoumi, who now assumes the Women and Family Affairs portfolio. Additionally, Osman Ahmed Ma’ow has been appointed as State Minister of Energy and Water in this latest mini reshuffle.

“In a circular issued by the Prime Minister, Dahir Shire Mohamed is appointed Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in the Federal Government of Somalia. The Prime Minister has also swapped the Ministers of Family Affairs and Human Rights and Climate Change,” read a statement issued by the Communications Office of the Prime Minister.

Dismissal of Petroleum Minister

The dismissal of Abdirizak, who oversaw Somalia’s oil exploration efforts, has come as a surprise to many, as he was perceived to be a close confidant of President Hassan. His removal follows the backdrop of a Turkish-led oil exploration initiative in Somalia.

Shortly after his dismissal, Abdirizak took to Facebook to address the situation, acknowledging his close relationship with the President while attributing his sacking to political differences over the Hiiran region, his hometown.

“People might be wondering why I have been sacked now when many believed I was very close to the President. It is true that I am a close ally of the President, but my sacking is related to political differences over how to address the grievances of the people of the Hiiran region, who are at odds with Hirshabelle State,” Abdirizak said in his post.

His remarks reference a longstanding dispute between parts of the Hiiran region and the leadership of Hirshabelle State. The state’s leadership, based in Jowhar, the current administrative capital, has faced resistance in certain areas of Hiiran since the tenure of former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. This has resulted in parts of Hiiran becoming inaccessible to Hirshabelle authorities.

Somalia’s Oil Prospects

Somalia is believed to have significant untapped oil and gas reserves, with the US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (ITA) estimating the country may hold at least 30 billion barrels of oil and gas reserves.

In March 2024, Somalia and Turkey signed a cooperation agreement focused on the exploration and development of offshore oil and natural gas resources. In October 2024, the Turkish research vessel Oruc Reis arrived in Somalia to conduct seismic surveys for oil and natural gas.

Abdirizak played a key role in these agreements, signing the cooperation accord on behalf of Somalia as Petroleum Minister alongside Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.

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