Newly-declassified State Department documents offer evidence behind intervention '93

[Ms DD]

The Conoco Somalia Declassification Project

By Keith Yearman,

Posted on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 11:59:48 PM EST

 

In 1992 U.S. commandos “stormed” the beaches of Somalia in what was known as Operation Restore Hope. The United States was invading Somalia to, as was told to the public, restore law and order to a country devastated by anarchy, and to feed the population. As then-President George H. W. Bush told the nation in a televised address on December 4, 1992:

“I want to talk to you today about the tragedy in Somalia and about a mission that can ease suffering and save lives. Every American has seen the shocking images from Somalia. The scope of suffering there is hard to imagine. Already, over a quarter of a million people--as many people as live in Buffalo, New York--have died in the Somali famine. In the months ahead, five times that number, 1.5 million people could starve to death…There is no government in Somalia. Law and order have broken down--anarchy prevails.”

 

 

Across Africa similar crises were causing mass devastation, yet U.S. Marines were not dispatched to deal with these humanitarian crises. For instance, Human Rights Watch reported on Mozambique:

“…The disappearance of any form of effective government throughout most rural areas of the country has appeared to draw closer by the month. The severe drought of 1991-1992 undermined the unified command of both armies, as soldiers turned to looting and pillaging to provide for themselves. Relief agencies are already describing Mozambique as ‘the next Somalia.’”

 

So why was Somalia the chosen country? The mainstream media applauded the administration’s efforts at humanitarian intervention, and seemingly not a critical murmur was sounded as to why Somalia was chosen over Mozambique, Ethiopia, Angola or countless other nations.

 

A 1993 Los Angeles Times article offered a clue. This article was completely ignored by other media outlets, yet gave critical insight into an important resource Somalia had – oil. According to the article, “Nearly two-thirds of Somalia was allocated to the American oil giants Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Phillips in the final years before Somalia's pro-U.S. President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown..." This article also called into question Conoco’s cozy relationship with the U.S. government, pointing out that the U.S. had leased its de facto embassy from the corporation.

 

Newly-declassified State Department documents offer more evidence concerning the significance of oil behind the intervention. The documents, released in response to two Freedom of Information Act requests filed by the author, highlight the role Conoco played in the years leading up to the invasion and also briefly highlight Conoco’s support for U.S. government operations in the country.

 

Civil war brought the downfall of Siad Barre in January 1991. The conflict prompted the U.S. and most other nations to close their embassies, and for most oil companies to cease exploration efforts. On July 27, 1990 Conoco suspended operations briefly when its security captain and a fuel truck driver were shot and killed. By April 1991 Conoco notified the State Department it was ready to restart operations. The economic gains would have been great – perhaps even surpassing Hunt Oil’s windfall in Yemen (which was pumping some 200,000 barrels per day in the late 1980s). According to a June 20, 1991 cable from Richard Barrett, then-U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti,

“[A source] claims to have seen an internal document of Conoco (Somalia), which states that sites in the Garoe – Las Anod area are capable of producing 300,000 barrels of oil per day…A confirmed strike could pre-empt moves toward reconciliation…It could also set off battles between clans for control of land where drilling is expected.”

 

Conoco’s Support

Conoco had long been providing support to State Department missions, from providing space on corporate aircraft traveling to Mogadishu, to housing and feeding State Department and other government employees, to even arranging security for government personnel. Some examples of Conoco’s support:

• From a May 21, 1991 cable from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi: “Two USG [u.S. government] employees would travel to Mogadishu several days after Conoco re-occupies its offices on June 4…USG employees would be welcome to stay with Conoco and would be protected throughout their stay by Conoco’s private guard service.”

• From an October 9, 1991 cable from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi: “Embassy is in daily contact with Conoco (Somalia), Ltd...During four visits by USG officials to Mogadishu over the past several months, Conoco (Somalia), Ltd. has provided the following security: USG officials are met at the airport by armed guards and escorted via convoy to the Conoco residence…USG officials move about Mogadishu as little as necessary. When they do, they are provided with armed guards. USG officials sleep and take their meals at the Conoco compound. When they leave Mogadishu, they are again escorted to the airport via convoy under armed guard…The aircraft…is in constant radio contact with the Conoco compound while in flight, which further facilitates security…”

• From an October 11, 1991 cable from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi (discussing plans for an assessment mission to arrive the following week): “Conoco, a non-USG entity, has basically given the ‘green light’ for this mission. It is not Conoco’s call to do so. Conoco security is excellent. Their guards are well-paid and well-armed…” Concerned that the security situation might deteriorate, Deputy Chief of Mission E. Michael Southwick warned “someone could get hurt. If the latter be the case, Conoco, which has no legal responsibility to protect official USG personnel, will say ‘we tried our best’ and the USG is faced with both an embarrassing political and legal dilemma. A mission of this importance may warrant the use of U.S. military or DS [Diplomatic Security Service] Security assets.”

The assessment mission visited Mogadishu from October 17 – 20, 1991, ostensibly to evaluate the political and security situation in Somalia. The U.S. Embassy had been closed due to civil unrest, and the delegation was tasked with reviewing properties for a small diplomatic mission. According to the October 22, 1991 summary of the delegation:

"There are, at present, few American citizens in Somalia. Conoco (Somalia), Ltd., however, anticipates re-commencing oil exploration work in southern Somalia within the next several months. According to Conoco, this would involve the introduction of 50-60 Amcit employees into Somalia. If the security situation does not deteriorate, it would be realistic to project a total presence of around 100 Amcits in southern Somalia by the middle of 1992. Such a community would justify a consular presence in Mogadishu.

"There are, at present, only two US firms (Conoco and Turnkey) operating in Somalia. Others, especially in the oil sector, are considering resuming operations. These firms will sometimes require the type of diplomatic support best provided by a permanent diplomatic mission.”

In early December 1992, the State Department leased Conoco’s headquarters to serve as the new diplomatic mission (technically the U.S. Liaison Office). The State Department would pay Conoco $41,260 for six months rent. As Michael Parenti noted in Against Empire, “U.S. taxpayers were paying for the troops in Somalia to protect Conoco's interests, and they were paying the corporation for the privilege of doing so."

By mid-December, arrangements were made for " a letter of appreciation from President Bush to the president of Conoco for the tremendous support that Conoco as a corporation and Raymond Marchand [of Conoco (Somalia), Ltd.] as an individual have provided here."

We know how Somalia turned out – with U.S. soldiers dragged through the streets, the U.S. withdrawal, and with oil companies still hungry for Somali crude. During the occupation of Iraq, with the president’s secret energy task force, high oil prices, and the unquestioned power and influence of the oil companies, both the reasons for and lessons from Somalia must be fresh in our minds.

[Baashi]

I knew it!

[N.O.R.F]

Where are these blocks allocated to these firms? Anyone with a map?

[Suldaanka]

Here is the homepage of the declassified Conoco Files.

 

Very interesting read specialy those areas related to the SNM and the Siyad Barre regime.

 

North here is a map.

[N.O.R.F]

Time to start digging dulkaayi me thinks

 

But who is Pecten? Agip I think is French then you have a host of others under Conoco's blocks. Who are they tolow?

[Suldaanka]

^^those are the subcontractors. Somewhere you could even find Osman Atto's startup co.

 

 

Here is how the Gold Rush took place.

 

 

CHEVRON INTERNATIONAL SIGNS OIL EXPLORATION AGREEMENT WITH SOMALIA

 

31 January 1986

 

CHEVRON INTERNATIONAL SIGNS CONCESSION AGREEMENT WITH SOMALIA

 

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Chevron International Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corp., today announced the signing of a concession agreement with the government of the Somali Democratic Republic. The oil exploration agreement covers a three-block area in the Guban area of northern Somalia.

 

The concession blocks lie along the northwest coast of Somalia, both onshore and offshore extending into the Gulf of Aden. The concession encompasses approximately 40,509 sq. km., or 10,009,744 acres.

 

Geophysical surveys will be undertaken during the first two years of the concession term, with exploratory drilling to follow.

 

Copyright PR Newswire 1986 wire

 

 

 

-----------------------------------------

 

 

 

OIL EXPLORATION AGREEMENT WITH CONOCO

 

8 July 1986

 

An oil exploration agreement was signed today between the SDR and Conoco Inc of the USA. The agreement stipulates that 98,700 sq.km. in Nogal, Sool and Togdher regions of Somalia will be subject to exploration.

 

The Somali Minister for Mineral and Water Resources, Jaalle Ahmad Mahmud Farah, who is also a member of the political committee of the SRSP (Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party) Central Committee, signed on behalf of Somalia and Mr (?Raymond), the company's representative, who will be based in Somalia signed on behalf of his company. The Minister and the representative also discussed how the exploration will be carried out. Present during the occasion were the Deputy Minister of Mineral and Water Resources, Eng Mahmud Shaykh Mursal, and the Permanent Secretary in that Ministry, Jaalle Muhammad Umar (?Asad). (Mogadishu in Somali 1115 gmt 17 Jun 86)

 

©1986 The British Broadcasting Corporation

 

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AMOCO SOMALIA PETROLEUM CO. SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF SOMALI DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC FOR ONSHORE PETROLEUM EXPLORATION.

 

5 May 1987

 

MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Amoco Somalia Petroleum Company has signed a concession agreement with the government of the Somali Democratic Republic for onshore petroleum exploration covering 35,091 square kilometers (8.67 million acres).

 

The acreage is in Blocks 6, 9, and 12, north and southwest of Mogadishu. Block 6 has 12,347 square kilometers (3.05 million acres), block 9 has 9,515 square kilometers (2.35 million acres), and block 12 has 13,229 square kilometers (3.27 million acres).

 

The concession agreement includes an initial three-year exploration period with rights of extension for three additional one-year periods, upon satisfaction of certain minimum work and estimated expenditure obligations. The concession agreement provides for aeromagnetic, gravity, seismic and drilling activities. Operations will begin within the next three months.

 

The minister for mineral and water resources, Ahmed Mohamoud Farah, signed the agreement for the government. Charles H. Moerbe, vice president of Amoco Somalia, signed for Amoco.

 

Amoco Somalia is a subsidiary of Amoco Production Company, the worldwide exploration and production subsidiary of Amoco Corporation.

 

© Copyright PR Newswire 1987 wire

 

 

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DUPONT UNIT EXPANDS OIL EXPLORATION IN SOMALIA

 

19 October 1988

 

NEW YORK, Oct 18, Reuter - Dupont unit Conoco Inc said it signed a 20 million dollar deal with the Somali government to expand its oil exploration activities in northeastern Somalia.

 

A spokesman for the company said the agreement, signed October 16, committed Conoco to invest at least 20 million dollars in blocks 33 and 34 in the Northeastern section of Somalia.

 

According to a report on state-run Radio Mogadishu on Monday, Conoco is committed to exploration in the Bari, Sool and Nugal regions of northeastern Somalia over the next three years.

 

The broadcast, which was monitored by the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, said the agreement was signed in Mogadishu on Sunday and exploration work would begin in three months.

 

The spokesman for Conoco said the company's exploration plans were in the initial phases of development. Conoco has been prospecting for oil in northern Somalia since 1986.

 

Another U.S. company, Amoco Corp, and the Italian firm Agip SpA are also exploring for oil in the region.

 

© 1988 Reuters Limited

 

 

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PARKER LANDS MAJOR CONTRACT IN SOMALIA

 

6 September 1989

 

TULSA, Okla., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Drilling Co. (NYSE: PKD) today announced a subsidiary has been awarded a major drilling contract in Somalia.

 

Conoco Somalia Ltd. has awarded Parker Drilling Co. Eastern Hemisphere Ltd., a long-term contract to drill exploratory wells in the remote Las Anod desert region of the East African nation. As a result of the contract, Parker has re-opened a division office in the capital city of Mogadishu.

 

"Parker is grateful to again be returning to this important country," said Robert L. Parker Jr., president and chief operating officer. "We are especially pleased to renew our good relationships with the various Somali officials," he added.

 

Parker's versatile TBA 2000 Rig 195 is being mobilized for the contract. The rig, presently idle in the Sudan, is being trucked to Port Sudan. From there, it will proceed by barge to the northern Somalia port city of Bosaso and then transferred to trucks for the 430-mile, cross-desert trip to Conoco's initial location. From the Kenya port of Mombasa, other Parker camp facilities and equipment are being barged to Bosaso as well.

 

Wayne Hazelwood, a Parker employee who last worked in Somalia in 1986, has been named operations manager for the project. Spudding is expected to take place Nov. 15.

 

Parker is a worldwide oil and gas drilling contractor with operations in 15 countries.

 

 

© 1989, PR Newswire

 

 

 

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International PHILLIPS Signs Exploration Pact with Somalia For 3.5-MILLION ACRES

 

29 November 1989

 

Oklahoma City 11/28 -- Phillips Petroleum International Corp. Somalia has signed a concession agreement with the Somali Democratic Republic to explore for oil and gas on a 3.5-million acre onshore block, the company announced today.

 

Under the terms of the agreement Phillips is granted an initial exploration period of two years. After that time, it has the option to extend the concession for additional periods of one year each. Phillips plans to begin seismic work during the first quarter of 1990. No further details were given.

 

Phillips holds 100% interest on the acreage. The company now has interests in about 9.6-million acres in Somalia. It's currently working on a wildcat well in Somalia, in association with Conoco. The well is on a separate block. Currently there is no oil or gas production in the country. About 50 wells have been drilled there, a Phillips spokesman said.

 

© Copyright 1989 McGraw-Hill, Inc.

 

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MOBIL, SHELL SET SOMALIA EXPLORATION

 

30 August 1990

 

FAIRFAX, Va., Aug 30, Reuter - Mobil Corp said its Mobil Exploration Somalia Inc affiliate signed a joint venture agreement with Pecten Somalia Co, a Shell Oil Co subsidiary, to explore a block in the Indian Ocean offshore Somali.

 

The concession area was awarded to Pecten in 1988. As operator, it has already conducted extensive seismic evaluation of the 14.9 million acre block. Pecten's parent is a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group.

 

Mobil said it and Pecten will equally share the exploration risk and any resulting production. They expect to drill the first wildcat well early next year.

 

© 1990 Reuters Limited

 

[N.O.R.F]

Thanks Suldaanka

 

Any ideas where these guys are?

 

Jaalle Ahmad Mahmud Farah

 

Eng Mahmud Shaykh Mursal

 

Jaalle Muhammad Umar

 

ps Block 27 is mine!

[Baashi]

^ And you are?

[N.O.R.F]

^^meeshaan qodi. Wixi kasoobaxana waan iibin @ $50/barrel (undercut the big boys). What say you awoow?

[Gordon Gekko]

Do as UBS and Tudor Capital; buy Range Resources shares.

[me]

^lol........Somalia waxlaga soo saaratoma jirto.ilaala hashiiyo,si xaq ahna khayraadkeena loo soo saaro, mafia mesha iska dhacaysaa ma jirto, hadii laysku dayana tii ONLF indhayarka ku samaysay mid ka daran ayaa ka dhacaysa.

 

So Nabad first

Dib u hashiisiin second

then followed by a fair share of the deal for the Somali people and the locals of the areas...hadii kale, wax la soo saaraayaa ma jirto...waa bandow.

[Gordon Gekko]

"$70/barrel" speaks louder than any internal conflict. Trust me on that one.

 

If oil is found - it will be exploited. Case examples to study: Sudan and Nigeria. Oil business thrives in trouble spots.

[me]

Not in Somalia.

 

Edit: there is no if the oil is there, the Somalis are just not ready. We don't need oil and its evils now. We are suffering enough already, lets hope that we have a stable government that the people support is in place when the oil is extracted, hadii kale whatever is happening now will seem like childsplay...to what will happen then.

[N.O.R.F]

For once I agree with the man above^^^

 

Exploitation is not the way forward. A small number of people controlling things is not the way. Heeshiis followed by representation, strategies on how the money will be spent, apportioments of money etc.