Sunday December 22, 2024
FILE - Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, Somalia's recently dismissed Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, during a press briefing.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, Somalia’s recently dismissed Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, has linked his removal to disagreements with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over addressing long-standing grievances from Hiiraan residents toward the Hirshabelle administration.
Abdirizak Omar Mohamed revealed that the policy rift centred on how to resolve Hiiraan's complaints, which have persisted since Hirshabelle's formation during President Hassan Sheikh's first term. These grievances intensified during the presidency of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, as successive governments struggled to find a lasting solution.
"The issue traces back to the decision to designate Jowhar as Hirshabelle's capital, despite earlier promises to make Buloburde the administrative center. This failure left Hiiraan residents feeling marginalized," Abdirizak stated.
Mohamed stressed the legitimacy of Hiiraan's grievances, saying they required a collaborative resolution. "In principle, the President, I, and other politicians agreed that the grievances of the people of Hiiraan were legitimate and required resolution, involving both the Hirshabelle administration and the federal government," he said.
The former minister emphasized reconciliation as the cornerstone of his approach. He advocated for engaging traditional elders, religious leaders, and local politicians to address foundational issues, including the regional capital and parliamentary representation.
"They should collectively decide on the future structure of Hirshabelle and address the core issues underlying the grievances, including the capital city and the composition of Hirshabelle's parliament."
The broader challenges facing Somalia's federal system were also evident. Hiiraan's dissatisfaction with Hirshabelle underscores the difficulties of balancing regional autonomy with national governance in a fragile federal structure.
Despite his dismissal, Abdirizak thanked President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre for the opportunity to serve. He praised the Prime Minister's leadership, which he described as inclusive and rooted in mutual respect.
"I remain committed to Somalia's progress, particularly in addressing the needs of Hirshabelle's communities," he added.
During his two-year tenure, Mohamed played a central role in negotiating and finalizing landmark agreements to revive Somalia's energy prospects. One of his first major achievements came in October 2022, when he brokered a deal with U.S.-based Coastline Exploration. The deal, which included seven Production Sharing Agreements and a $7 million signature bonus paid to Somalia's Central Bank, set the stage for renewed interest in Somalia's offshore oil fields.
In March 2024, Mohamed expanded Somalia's energy partnerships by signing a cooperation agreement with Turkey. The agreement, focused on offshore oil and gas exploration, marked a new phase in bilateral relations between the two countries. Later that year, Turkey's seismic research vessel, Oruc Reis, began surveying Somali waters, demonstrating the tangible progress of this collaboration. Around the same time, Mohamed secured another significant deal with Liberty Petroleum, granting the U.S.-based company exploration rights to three offshore blocks.
Mohamed consistently highlighted Somalia's untapped oil and gas reserves throughout his tenure. At a 2024 energy conference, Mohamed emphasized that Somalia's energy resources—estimated by the U.S. Department of Commerce at 30 billion barrels— could drive economic development, create jobs, and reduce reliance on foreign aid if managed responsibly.