The Jubaland State Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy has formally rejected the establishment and operations of SOMTURK, a newly formed fisheries company, declaring that it has no legal authority to operate within Jubaland’s territorial waters.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Ministry stated that SOMTURK, reportedly established as a partnership between the Somali Fisheries Company and Türkiye’s OYAK Group, was created without the consultation or consent of Jubaland and therefore lacks the constitutional and legal basis required for its operations.
The Ministry emphasized that it does not recognize SOMTURK’s establishment, licensing authority, or activities, arguing that the company was formed outside the constitutional framework governing Somalia’s fisheries and marine resources.
Officials said Jubaland was neither involved in the company’s creation nor consulted during its launch and operational planning.
According to the statement, the Ministry considers the arrangement inconsistent with both the Constitution of Jubaland and Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, which outline the management and ownership of natural resources and require cooperation between the Federal Government and Federal Member States.
Jubaland further announced that any fishing vessel or maritime operator holding licenses issued by SOMTURK will not be permitted to fish or conduct commercial fisheries-related activities in waters under Jubaland’s jurisdiction.
“The Ministry will not recognize any agreement, licensing arrangement, or administrative mechanism that undermines the constitutional authority of the Federal Member States or violates existing fisheries legislation,” the statement said.
The regional government reaffirmed its commitment to previously agreed revenue-sharing frameworks between Somalia’s Federal Government and the Federal Member States, stressing that natural resource management must be conducted through consultation, cooperation, and constitutional consensus.
Jubaland also urged the Federal Government of Somalia to respect the principles of federalism and engage regional administrations in decision-making processes related to fisheries governance, marine resource management, and the country’s blue economy sector.
The dispute highlights growing tensions over the governance and management of Somalia’s vast marine resources, a sector increasingly viewed as a key pillar of economic growth and national development.
