MOGADISHU, Somalia — August 6, 2026 —Puntland and Jubaland have warned Turkish fishing vessels against operating in waters off their coastlines, escalating a dispute over Somalia’s marine resources shortly after the Federal Government announced that Turkish-owned fishing ships are expected to begin operations in the country under a fisheries cooperation agreement.
The warning marks the latest disagreement between Mogadishu and two of Somalia’s federal member states over authority to manage the country’s natural resources, an issue that has repeatedly strained relations between the Federal Government and regional administrations.
Officials from Puntland and Jubaland said they would not permit Turkish fishing vessels to operate in waters they consider to fall under their respective jurisdictions. The administrations argued that decisions affecting marine resources should involve federal member states, although neither administration immediately released detailed measures they would take should the vessels arrive.
The warnings followed a recent announcement by Somalia’s Federal Government that Turkish fishing vessels would soon begin operating in Somali waters as part of an agreement intended to develop the country’s fisheries sector and strengthen economic cooperation with Turkey.
Federal officials have said the initiative is designed to improve the fisheries industry, increase investment, create employment opportunities, and help Somalia better utilize one of Africa’s longest coastlines. Authorities have not publicly responded to the latest objections from Puntland and Jubaland.
At the time of publication, Turkish authorities had not publicly commented on the warnings issued by the two regional administrations.
The Federal Government has maintained that international agreements related to Somalia’s maritime resources fall within its constitutional mandate. Officials have promoted cooperation with Turkey as part of broader efforts to attract foreign investment and modernize the country’s fisheries industry.
Neither Puntland nor Jubaland has publicly outlined whether they intend to seek negotiations with Mogadishu or pursue legal or administrative measures regarding the planned fishing operations.
No reports of confrontations involving Turkish fishing vessels had emerged as of Thursday.
Control over Somalia’s natural resources has remained one of the country’s most contentious political issues since the adoption of the federal system. Successive disagreements have centered on the management of offshore resources, ports, oil and gas exploration, revenue sharing, and fisheries.
Puntland has consistently argued that federal member states should play a central role in decisions involving natural resources located within or adjacent to their territories. Jubaland has also previously called for greater consultation between Mogadishu and regional administrations on matters affecting local economic interests.
The latest disagreement comes as Turkey continues to expand its partnership with Somalia across several sectors, including security, infrastructure, education, humanitarian assistance, energy, and maritime cooperation.
Turkey has become one of Somalia’s closest international partners over the past decade, investing in major development projects while supporting the country’s security institutions through training and other forms of assistance.
Somalia’s fisheries sector is widely regarded as having significant untapped economic potential. However, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing has remained a longstanding concern for Somali authorities and coastal communities, who have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of maritime regulations.
The disagreement highlights continuing constitutional and political tensions between Somalia’s Federal Government and some federal member states over control of strategic national resources. Without broader political consensus, disputes over fisheries and other economic sectors are likely to remain a recurring source of friction.
The issue could also affect investor confidence if disagreements over jurisdiction delay or complicate implementation of major economic agreements involving foreign partners.
For coastal communities, the management of fisheries carries important economic implications. Fishing supports thousands of livelihoods across Somalia, making access to marine resources a politically and economically sensitive issue.
Analysts say the dispute underscores the broader challenge of balancing federal authority with the interests of regional administrations as Somalia continues efforts to strengthen governance, promote economic development, and attract international investment.
Attention is now expected to focus on whether the Federal Government and the administrations of Puntland and Jubaland open discussions to resolve the disagreement before Turkish fishing vessels begin operations.