Mereja Forum

[AbyssiniaLady]

After 32 years of American bombardments, Mogadishu, the white pearl of the Somali ocean is still standing.



Somalia has endured three decades of USA imperialist sanctions policies, bombardments and displacement, It's a miracle and testimony to the strength of character and bravery of Somali people that Mogadishu is still standing today.




Southern Somali Sea.


Somalia is endowed with a long unspoiled tropical coastline of over 3333 kilometers and has unlimited potential to become a major destination for international tourists, Beaches are among the world’s most popular tourism destinations, In fact, ninety percent of all tourism takes place in coastal areas, Boasting the longest pristine coastline in Africa, Somalia is well placed to become a leader of maritime tourism.








Somalia will turn its pristine, untouched coast into a luxury tourism resort in the near future.

[AbyssiniaLady]

What is upwelling?



This graphic shows how displaced surface waters are replaced by cold, nutrient-rich water that “wells up” from below. Conditions are optimal for upwelling along the coast when winds blow along the shore.



Somalia's coastline is Africa's longest coastline, measuring 3333 kilometers.



Upwelling is a process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface.



This graphic shows how displaced surface waters are replaced by cold, nutrient-rich water that “wells up” from below. Conditions are optimal for upwelling along the coast when winds blow along the shore.


Upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon that involves wind-driven motion of dense, cooler, and usually nutrient-rich water towards the ocean surface, replacing the warmer, usually nutrient-depleted surface water. The increased availability in upwelling regions results in high levels of primary productivity and thus fishery production. Approximately 80% of the total global marine fish catches come from five upwellings that occupy only 5% of the total ocean area


Upwelling occurs in five major zones on earth, which occupy a mere five percent of the total ocean area , These are, the Somali Current, the Benguela Current (offshore western southern Africa), the Canary Current (offshore Northwest Africa), the California Current (offshore California and Oregon) and the Humboldt Current (offshore Peru and Chile).






Areas where upwelling occurs is usually abundant with marine life and and account for 80% of the total fisheries catch in the world, The Somali Current is recognized as one of the most productive areas in the global oceans.




Berbera - Northwestern Somali Sea - The Somali upwelling generates some of the world’s most fertile ecosystems.


The abundance in fisheries in the Somali sea is a result of the coastal upwelling of cold nutrient-rich subsurface oceanic waters, The upwelling results in the enrichment of phytoplankton and zooplankton, which, in turn, make the conditions favorable for some small pelagic fish such as sardines, herring, and scad, The Somali upwelling is recognized as one of the most productive areas in the global oceans.





Central Somali Sea.


Compared to most regions of the world ocean, Somalia coastal areas is one of the least impacted by human activities, It's sparsely populated.

[AbyssiniaLady]

Zeila - Northwestern Somali Sea (Screenshot)



Hotel in Djibouti - Northwestern Somali Sea.




Berbera - Northwestern Somali Sea.


Somali Sea is a source of wealth.

[AbyssiniaLady]

Somalia maritime police - In the Gulf of Berbera Also known As the Gulf of Aden, Unspoiled Somali Ocean.

This picture shows the results of Somalia's 32 year arms embargo.








The Somali peninsula and part of East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya) are expected to receive heavy rains between January and March 2024.

[AbyssiniaLady]

[AbyssiniaLady]

Hargeisa - Somalia.



Hargeisa - Somalia.



Mogadishu and its breathtaking ocean view - Somalia.

[AbyssiniaLady]

If you didn't know, now you know, Minerals-rich Somalia holds the world's largest population of sheep and camels.



Somali peninsula.



Mogadishu - Somalia.


Mogadishu - Somalia.



Mogadishu 1920 - Somalia.

[AbyssiniaLady]

Mogadishu - Somalia, A balcony like no others.



Western Somalia Landscape (Jigjiga districts).



Northwestern Somalia Landscape.


Northwestern Somalia Landscape



Northeastern Somali Sea.



Northern Somalia Landscape.

[AbyssiniaLady]

Somali Parliament Ratifies Défense and Economic Deal with Turkey



Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler (R) poses for a photo with Minister of Defense of Somalia Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur (L) during the signing ceremony of Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between two countries in Ankara, Turkiye on February 08, 2024.


February 21, 2024

Somali government has ratified a 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkish government, which covers various aspects of defense and economic cooperation, The agreement was signed by the defense ministers of both countries in Ankara on February 8, 2024. It aims to enhance bilateral relations and the stability of the region, as well as to combat terrorism and illegal fishing in Somali waters.


According to the agreement, Turkey will provide training and equipment to the Somali navy, which will enable Somalia to protect its marine resources and vast waters.

The agreement will also boost the economic development and trade relations between the two countries, as Turkey will assist Somalia in tapping into its vast potential of fisheries, tourism, and energy.


Source: Somalia and Türkiye media outlets.


This is good news for Somalia.

[AbyssiniaLady]

Somalis - the Kings and Queens of the Ocean.



Mogadishu - Somalia.



Hargeisa - Somalia.



Western Somalia - not far from Jigjiga.



Small Fishing Village - The tip of the Somali Peninsula.



Djibouti - Northwestern Somali Sea.

[AbyssiniaLady]

Turkey signs energy cooperation deal with Somalia



Somalia's Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed and Turkey Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Ankara, Türkiye, March 7, 2024. (DHA Photo)



By Can Sezer March 7, 2024


ISTANBUL, March 7 (Reuters) - Turkey signed an offshore oil and natural gas cooperation deal with Somalia on Thursday, the Turkish Energy Ministry said, further strengthening bilateral ties after agreeing a defence deal last month.

The energy ministry said the deal, which it described as an inter-governmental agreement, includes exploration, evaluation, development and production of oil in Somalia's land and sea blocks.

"With this agreement, we will carry out joint activities to bring the resources of Somalia to the Somali people. We aim to strengthen Turkey's presence in the Horn of Africa with new collaborations in the field of energy," Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on social media platform X.

"Oil and natural gas exploration offshore of Somalia, and it looks more like oil for now, will start very soon in the areas we have identified. We will maybe send our seismic (exploration) vessel there in the first phase," he said separately in a panel, without elaborating.

The deal includes transportation, distribution, refining, sales and services operations of oil and other products from land and sea projects, the ministry also said.

Turkey has become a close ally of the Somali government. It has built schools, hospitals and infrastructure and provided scholarships for Somalis to study in Turkey.

In 2017, Turkey opened its biggest overseas military base in Mogadishu. Turkey also provides training to Somali military and police.
In February, Turkey signed a defence and economic cooperation agreement with Somalia and will provide maritime security support to help the African country defend its territorial waters.

Albayrak said Turkey was also interested in oil and gas exploration with Libya. In 2022, Ankara signed a deal similar to Thursday's accord with Somalia with Libya's internationally-recognised government in Tripoli.

"We are interested in offshore Libya, our interest in some areas on land continues. But Somalia is an exploration operation that we are especially considering on the sea," he added.



Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, Somalia's petroleum and mineral resources minister.


https://www.reuters.com/business/energy ... 2024-03-07

[AbyssiniaLady]

Southern Somali Sea,


Zeila - Northwestern Somali Sea,



Southern Somali Sea - When the River Meets the Sea.

[AbyssiniaLady]

Somali government has issued a stern warning to all fishing companies and vessel owners operating within the blessed country’s 200 nautical miles territorial waters to comply with Somalia fisheries law.

Failure to comply with the Somali Federal Fishery Law will result in legal action against violators, the Ministry warned. As Somalia aims to protect its rich marine biodiversity.





IMMEDIATE NOTICE
The Ministry urges all fishing companies & vessel owners to strictly adhere to the regulations outlined in the Somali Federal Fishery Law. Failure to comply with the law will result in legal action being taken against violators.


Source: Somalia media.

[AbyssiniaLady]

The first Turkish warship arrives in Mogadishu Somalia



President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.





April 23, 2024

The first warship belonging to Türkey arrived at the port of Mogadishu, while a high-level event with the participation of the heads of State will take place in the port of Mogadishu.

This is the beginning of the implementation of the agreement between Somalia and Turkey based on the protection of the coast of Somalia, which is a duration of 10 years.

The agreement between the two nations is one that supports the development of the blue economy, the development of fish production, the construction of economic infrastructure, the protection of marine resources, the fight against terrorism and the prevention of illegal fishing on the coast of Somalia, and it will allow Somalia to build enough Navy to defend the sea.




Source: Somalia media outlets.





Global Fishing Watch used satellite radar and optical imagery to reveal thousands of foreign fishing vessels fishing illegally in Somali waters. This is 4-5 plus year olds map, something like that.

Global Fishing Watch uses data that is broadcast using the automatic identification system (AIS) and collected via satellites and terrestrial receivers. They then combine this information with vessel monitoring system data provided by its partner countries and apply GFW’s own fishing detection algorithm to determine “apparent fishing effort” based on changes in vessel speed and direction. The heat map grid cell colors show how much fishing happened in that area, allowing for precise comparison.
Source: Global Fishing Watch.



Somalia loses approximately US$2.5 billion annually to foreign illegal fishing vessels operating in its vast exclusive economic zone “EEZ”, but Somalia still has one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world.






Somali navy is finally taking shape.