As the Çağrı Bey enters Somali waters this week, national eyes turn to the horizon. This is not merely a technical milestone; it is a test of our national integrity. With this deep-sea drilling vessel’s arrival at the Curad-1 well site, Somalia has officially embarked on a transformative journey as an active energy producer. While the Transparency Somalia Initiative (TSI) recognizes this sector’s potential to drive national economic growth, we remain vigilant.
In any resource-rich environment, wealth must be matched by equal measures of oversight to ensure national assets benefit the public rather than select individuals.
Our Role: The Independent Watchdog It is important to clarify that TSI does not directly regulate the petroleum industry or provide operational oversight of drilling activities. Those technical mandates remain with the relevant national petroleum authorities and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. However, TSI acts as a critical, independent watchdog. Our mission is to promote transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption within the sector. We serve as an external monitor to ensure that the “rules of the game” are followed, that procurement processes are fair, and that the management of our national resources remains beyond reproach.
Our Three Pillars for Oil Sector Accountability To safeguard the interests of the Somali people during this transition, TSI calls for the following immediate safeguards: 1. Full Disclosure of Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs): The public has a right to know the terms under which national resources are being managed. We advocate for the disclosure of all exploration and production agreements to ensure total fiscal clarity. 2. Beneficial Ownership Transparency: We demand a public registry of all local subcontractors and service companies involved in drilling operations. This ensures that contracts are awarded based on technical merit and value, not personal or political connections. 3. Revenue Management Oversight: Every dollar generated from our oceans must be tracked through an open and accessible data framework. We advocate for a robust and transparent management system to protect the wealth of both current and future generations.
A Critical Juncture for the Nation “The commencement of drilling is the ultimate test of our national integrity frameworks,” says Hassan Yusuf, Executive Director of TSI. “Extraction must never outpace oversight. Our role is to remain an objective voice for the public, demanding that the highest standards of accountability are applied to every barrel of oil and every contract signed.” TSI will continue to monitor the progress at the Curad-1 site and will release a Sectoral Integrity Diagnostic later this quarter.