Oil exploration has been a source of controversy in many African countries due to its negative impacts on the environment and human livelihoods. While the discovery of oil has the potential to generate revenue for governments, the cost of exploration and extraction can far outweigh the benefits. This essay will argue that the government should not invest in oil exploration in Somalia and other African countries due to its detrimental effects on the environment, social issues, and the economy.

Firstly, oil exploration has significant negative impacts on the environment, which can lead to long-term damage. Drilling and extraction activities can pollute water sources, contaminate soil, and harm biodiversity. The negative effects of oil spills are well documented, and the impact can be devastating for both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, the infrastructure required for oil exploration, such as pipelines and refineries, can lead to further environmental degradation. In many African countries, ecosystems are already under pressure from other human activities such as deforestation, mining, and agriculture. Therefore, adding the impacts of oil exploration would exacerbate the already fragile ecosystems, leading to long-term environmental damage.

Secondly, oil exploration has been linked to social issues, such as displacement of local communities and human rights violations. Communities living in areas earmarked for oil exploration often experience forced relocation and loss of their traditional livelihoods. The environmental pollution caused by oil exploration can also lead to health problems for local communities, especially those living near oil extraction sites. Oil companies are known to have a poor track record in respecting the rights of local communities, often ignoring their concerns and prioritizing profits over people. The negative social impacts of oil exploration can lead to social unrest, conflict, and instability in affected communities.

Thirdly, investing in oil exploration can be economically unsustainable, especially in countries with weak institutional frameworks. Oil extraction is capital-intensive, and the costs of exploration and extraction can be too high, leading to an economic burden on the government. Moreover, oil revenues are subject to fluctuations in international oil prices, which can lead to economic instability. The over-reliance on oil revenues can also lead to the neglect of other sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and tourism, which have more potential for sustainable growth.

In conclusion, the government should not invest in oil exploration in Somalia and other African countries due to its negative impacts on the environment, social issues, and the economy. Oil exploration can lead to long-term environmental damage, social issues such as forced relocation, and human rights violations, and economic unsustainability. As John D. Rockefeller once said, "The growth of a large business is merely a survival of the fittest... The American Beauty rose can be produced in the splendor and fragrance which bring cheer to its beholder only by sacrificing the early buds which grow up around it. This is not an evil tendency in business. It is merely the working-out of a law of nature and a law of God." The exploration of oil can also be the survival of the fittest, but the cost of it can far outweigh the benefits, especially for the people living around those areas. Therefore, African governments should prioritize sustainable development and the protection of the environment and the well-being of their people over short-term gains from oil exploration.