Foreign companies are getting ready to undertake the risky business of exploring for oil in war-torn Somalia, a quest that could trigger new conflicts. (0) | | inShare Published: May 15, 2013 at 5:18 PM MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 15 (UPI) -- Foreign companies are getting ready to undertake the risky business of exploring for oil in war-torn Somalia, a quest that could trigger new conflict as the Western-backed government struggles to stop die-hard Islamist insurgents. "The world's leading oil companies are increasingly accepting that their quest for new reserves will take them into challenging new territory," the Financial Times observed this week. "In regions such as the arctic, the problems are technical. Around the Horn of Africa, companies must calculate whether political and security risks will put too heavy a burden on their production costs. "This is hazardous territory in which to operate." In 2011-12, U.S.-backed African forces drove al-Shabaab, the main Islamist force, out of Mogadishu and seized its main urban strongholds, including the port of Kismayo 200 miles to the south. But large swathes of rural Somalia remain in the militants' hands and they're waging a guerrilla war of suicide bombings and hit-and-run attacks. President Hassan Sheik Mohamud of the foreign aid-dependent Transitional National Government, who was elected seven months ago, narrowly escaped being killed in a suicide bombing in Mogadishu a few weeks ago. Major oil strikes would potentially transform Somalia's ramshackle economy but there are fears the vast revenues it would produce could bring about new conflicts, possibly re-energizing al-Shabaab, whose transnational wing has strong links to al-Qaida. Indeed, with oil exploration also under way in neighboring Ethiopia and Eritrea, staunch enemies who fought a bloody border war in May 1998-June 2000, the region may well become part of the East African oil and natural gas boom that runs down the Indian Ocean coast to Mozambique. But the political landscape in historical Somalia, which includes the semi-autonomous region of Puntland and the self-declared states of Galmudug in the north and Somaliland on the border with Djibouti, is complicated, messy and militia-ridden. It's difficult even to determine exactly what territory Mogadishu controls. "Attempts to carve up oil blocks before the Mogadishu government even controls the whole national territory are undermining efforts to bring peace and stability to a state that has been shattered by 22 years of war and that exports terrorism," the Financial Times observed. "The race to lay claim to resources risks triggering wider conflicts: regional authorities have been hostile to central government since the military dictatorship of Siad Barre. "When he was deposed in 1991, warlords carved up the country -- and several clan-based militias still hold sway, sometimes cutting deals with al-Shabaab. "The danger is that the race for oil will feed a destabilizing rivalry between Mogadishu and other regions -- some still influenced by former warlords -- just as the international community is celebrating progress." It's a fragile progress at best. Al-Shabaab remains a deadly threat, even within the war-battered capital on the Indian Ocean, and Western intelligence services caution against writing it off as a spent force. Much will depend on whether Mohamud can get a fully functioning government operating. Somalia's been without one since Siad Barre was booted out. There is oil in commercial quantities out there. It was found by Western oil companies during the Siad Barre era. But the hunt was abandoned after his ouster, which plunged the territory, ruled by Britain and Italy until 1960, into incessant clan warfare that eventually morphed into the Islamist insurgency that continues to this day. The quest for oil now under way includes Eni of Italy and Royal Dutch Shell with BP and Conoco of the United States expected to join the hunt. Eni, Shell and Conoco were among the Western majors that conducted exploratory drilling during the Siad Barre era. They want to reclaim their old concessions and seek new production-sharing contracts. The Canadian wildcatter Africa Oil began exploration in Puntland in the arid northeast in January 2012, drilling Somalia's first wells in 21 years. Issa Farah, head of Puntland's Petroleum and Minerals Agency, said at the time estimated there were reserves of 3 billion-4 billion barrels of oil in that sector. Estimates of Somalia's oil reserves, onshore and offshore, run as high as 110 billion barrels. There are jurisdictional problems already offshore, where Norway's Statoil is prospecting off the Jubaland region. Neighboring Kenya, whose forces played a key role in fighting al-Shabaab and currently hold Jubaland, claims the offshore zone. Topics: Siad Barre Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2013/05/15/Oilmen-ready-for-risky-push-into-Somalia/UPI-37721368652699/#ixzz2TP64cO2A

In this audio message, the current Leader of the Presidential Council of the oil rich Khaatumo State of Somalia Maxamed Yusuf Jaamac is congratulating the president-elect Axmed Madoobe for his today's impressive victory for the office of presidency of JL of Somalia... " frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Halkaan hoose ka dhageyso Madaxweyne Axmed Madoowe: http://puntlandi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/A.Madoowe.mp3" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

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Duke welcome back Janaraale,,,,,hope you enjoyed your time off from SOL,,,,

New Song Heestii Jubaland by Nuur Ahmed Hasan " frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

M.kacaan heestii jubbaland " frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

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Saado Cali Hees Cusub Guul Alleh Jubaland State http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fUAKlgpGb1c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

BREAKING NEWS—Axmed Maxamed Islaan (Axmed Madoobe) oo noqdey Madaxwaynihii 1aad ee Dowlada Jubaland abad yeelato Kismaayo 15 may,2013–Pi– Doorashadii Madaxweynaha Jubaland ayaa maanta lasoo gabagabeeyey waxaana ku guuleystey Axmed Maxamed Islaan (Axmed Madoobe) inuu noqdo Madaxweynaha Dowlada Jubaland. Doorashada oo si xalaal ah u dhacdey waxay Ergadii codka bixisey, Siyaasiyiintii tartamayay iyo Odoyaasha dhaqanku ay wada qireen iney ku qanacsan yihiin natiijada. Madaxweynaha cusub ee Dowlada Jubaland Mudane Axmed Madoobe ayaa la filayaa inuu goordhiw la hadlo saxaafada. Howlwadeenada Puntlandi oo isku dayay iney la kulmaan nooma suuroobin oo waxaa markiiba amaankiisa la wareegey Ciidan loo diyaariyey horey inay sugaan amaanka Qofka guuleysta. Puntlandi.com Kismaayo

YAC;)

But the situation is looking even more complex. The area around Nugaal, Khaatumo, last year declared independence from both Somaliland and Puntland, highlighting the risk that oil could rupture the country. In order not to lose time and effort by being caught in tribal squabbles, President Hassan should immediately dismiss the fantasy and farce of secessionists’ spurious claims on the lands of SCC people, and urgently put Khatumas application on fast track for becoming a Federal Member State. Khatumos Hohol area is believed holding the easiest harvestable grounds for black gold of all Somalia lands. Mario B As for your suggestion for ministerial reshuffle, a minister for hydrocarbons from Khatumo State of Somalia would be the right facilitator if we want to employ our national resources for immediate betterment of our people, imo.

Here is a simply suggestion to the President of SFG. To curtail the movements of the SNM Gang, you should send a presidential note to all heads of states in the world in which you should request their excellencies to demand proper Somali government documents including Somali diplomatic passports from anyone approaching to all their governmental ministries and departments who claim that they are from any part of Somalia, from Kismayo to Saylac , and who want to discuss with them any Somali official or legal or political issue.

http://oodweynenews.com/2013/05/war-deg-deg-ahrabshadihii-iyo-banaanbaxyadii-burco-ka-socday-goor-dhawayd-istaagay-iyo-khasaaraha-dhabta-ee-ka-dhashaysawiro/

http://oodweynenews.com/2013/05/war-deg-deg-ahrabshadihii-iyo-banaanbaxyadii-burco-ka-socday-goor-dhawayd-istaagay-iyo-khasaaraha-dhabta-ee-ka-dhashaysawiro/

http://boramanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8013&catid=34&Itemid=53

Breaking News, Unarmed demonstrators in the west side of Buroa, a city in the north western region, are shot by SNM Gang..... One student is dead; another two are seriously wounded,,,,,,Allow Sahal We demand from Somali Federal Government to under take serous invstigation and bring Siilaanyo, the head of the SNM Gang to justice,,,,, http://puntlandi.com/breaking-news-banaanbaxyo-waaweyn-oo-gil-gilay-oo-weli-ka-socda-magaalada-burco-dhimasho-iyo-dhawwacna-sababay/

The guy is not a Chinese. He is a Vietnamese. He has been on the SNM Gang payroll since 1990s collecting a hefty monthly salary of more than $10K. The SNM Gang consider him a legitimate Washington DC lobbyist who is in a position of influence to promote the unlawful and illicit project of breaking up Somalia to the US policy makers. The guy absolutely knows the gang's dream is a nonstarter but as you see in the video he is enjoying a high lifestyle at the expense of the poor Somali children in Hargeisa-Burao-Berbara Triangle; the funds denoted by the world and or collected from old women running tomatoes stalls are switched to hire the likes of Peter Pham.

What about f*t*, mise togii Xaar walwaal baa ku xaabsaday,,,,,,,,,,,,,

xaaji xunjuf;948392 wrote: mise ayeeyo doonbiro ba xuduuda tallow ku sameysey you are rump (f*t*) of somalia, protest against the economist------you are a district in somalia, protest against the rueters, poor

A_Khadar;948389 wrote: I am glad you no longer rely on the white man's.. No, yes,(which is right?) he is glad to rely on the white man for marking the soo called border

The new government in Mogadishu has yet to prove its mettle The Economist Friday, May 10, 2013 AT THE end of the colonial era Somalia was arguably in ethnic terms the most homogeneous country in sub-Saharan Africa. The nearest to it was probably Botswana, which is four-fifths Tswana—and turned out to be peaceful and prosperous, suggesting to some that countries populated and run by a single big tribe have a better chance of stability than those with a hotch-potch of smaller ones. Somalia, however, became a byword for conflict, poverty and ungovernability. Yet its ethnic homogeneity is misleading. Despite also sharing a single language and religion, it is divided into more than 500 clans and sub-clans, who are notoriously fractious and competitive. This, as well as their largely nomadic way of life, has made many Somalis fiercely loth to accept the edicts of a central government. The last man to exert real authority from the capital, Mogadishu, was a military dictator, Siad Barre, who was ousted in 1991. His downfall was the cue for two decades of civil war. Can the country’s latest president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected by parliament last September, do any better, while using democratic methods? So far, so good. An uneasy peace holds in much of Somalia, thanks largely to a promise of federalism and decentralised power. Under the prodding of Britain, which has been leading a foreign push to put Somalia on its feet again, the new government accepts that the half a dozen or so of Somalia’s fiefs that enjoy a measure of autonomy should be given their head—and should be only gradually drawn back, if possible, into accepting central authority. So far the mosaic of clans, with their shifting alliances, have mainly held back from openly challenging Mr Mohamud’s government while they wait to see how resources and authority will be shared. But Mohamed Omar, the foreign minister of Somaliland, a northern breakaway from the rump of Somalia, says the government in Mogadishu has achieved little despite its international backing. Both Somaliland and Puntland, a semi-autonomous north-eastern region, cold-shouldered a grand international conference on Somalia in London on May 7th. “The days when Somalia could be governed from the centre are over,” he said. “Anyone who brings them back will not bring peace.” A former university dean and civil-rights activist, Mr Mohamud is well liked by foreign governments. In London they pledged $300m in aid in return for his promise of a “new Somalia”. But at home his writ only runs in the areas controlled by forces (mostly Ugandans, Kenyans and Ethiopians) under the aegis of the African Union. He is being closely watched for any signs of breaching his federal pledge. Some worry that big tasks, such as completing a new constitution, outlining how power will be shared and setting up commissions to define boundaries and electoral systems, have yet to begin. Matt Bryden, a Canadian who runs Sahan Research, a Somali-oriented think-tank in Nairobi, notes that “none of the work has been done towards federalism,” letting critics allege that the government is more centralist than it admits. They fret that the new security forces and police will be dominated by Mr Mohamud’s powerful ****** clan. Abdi Aynte, the head of the Heritage Institute, a think-tank based in Somalia, complains that too many conspiracy theories abound. The president has no hidden agenda, he says, and “an incredibly hard job”. Still, some of Mr Mohamud’s opponents in rival clans are still backing the Shabab, the armed Islamists linked to al-Qaeda that previously dominated the country, to destabilise him. In the past month, scores of people were killed in two Shabab suicide-attacks in Mogadishu. The United States, which has spent $1.5 billion channelled through the African Union to bring better security, and Britain, which promised another $280m in aid this week, are keen to take credit for gains in Somalia. “Somalia has begun a rapid recovery in the last year,” said Justine Greening, Britain’s development minister, at the conference. “But this will be put at risk if the Somali government cannot manage its own public finances properly, avoid future famines or tackle terrorism and piracy.” Quite so.

Somalia also must integrate the breakaway district of Somaliland and semi-autonomous Puntland region into a federal structure, ahead of elections scheduled for 2016. Somaliland boycotted the conference and Puntland said it was not invited. Cameron played down the boycott, saying he had "very good" discussions with the Somaliland president recently. Mohamud said he had listened to the concerns of all "stakeholders" in Somalia ahead of the conference. DEGMO---TAAS YAA XAQ AH---WAA DEGMO-----HARGEYSA-BURCO-BARBARA http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/07/us-britain-somalia-conference-idUSBRE9460VQ20130507

saalax;947199 wrote: a mere confused arab author injecting his opinions is a win for khaatumo? That says a lot about the khaatumo seeg project. I suggest "three" presidents of the based in the taleex village worry how to plot the never coming "liberation" of las anod. do not insult reuters chief editors..................... (reporting by mohammed abbas; additional reporting by edmund blair and richard lough in nairobi; editing by mike collett-white)