Somalia: Ethiopian factor surfaces in Puntland oil dispute

[NASSIR]

MMA, you are quite influenced by the Samatar brothers.

 

Read this Critique

A Critique of “Impasse Over Moqdishu: A Grand Compromise”

 

The term “selection” is alien to the field of political competition and as a process selection is completely different from election.

[Thankful]

Oh please, President Cade Muse came to Puntland in 2002 to fight for what he believed in. He took on Abdullahi Yusuf in a battle and made a huge name for himself no one take Abdullahi Yusuf on, he then signed a peace deal and drove his militia into the State which many had never witnessed before. He was begged to run for president because people knew he had the best change. He won in 2005!! All these foreigners running back are coming back THIS YEAR, and are campaigning abroad. They haven't even been in Puntland for years and expect just to come back during an election year, are you serious? ANSWER MY QUESTION, WHO IS A VIABLE CANDIDATE, WHO HAS A NAME THAT WILL WIN? Go ahead and de-scredit the elections because you know there are no one else you can name that can win. If President Cade didnt' take on Abdullahi Yusuf in 2002, he would never have had a chance of winning.

[Fabregas]

^^So in other words your friend is the best man, because he won an " election". Furthermore, there's no real point in anyone else running since there all foreigners and no one is better than your candidate? Well, why don't you give them a chance and see how they do?

 

 

It is clear to all that this particular adminstration has grossly failed. In any case, this particular thread conerns the alleged involvement of Ethiopians and the oil debate. More importantly, Puntland has literally declared itself independent of any laws passed by the T.F.G. Now, one would think that this a particularly important development, given the fact that PL has been heralded as a bastion of federalism in Somalia and also strongly, part and parcel of a greater-federal Somalia!

 

Moreover, the war over resources...minerals supposed oil etc... in the Northern regions( Somaliland, Maakhir, PL) will increase immensely over the next few years. Hence you will see these entities probably trying to place themselves under the protection of foreign entities, be they Americans in Berbera, Ethiopians in Puntland or these security firms......the entrenchment of foreigners in Somalia affaris look set to increase..........

[Thankful]

My main point and only thing i'm trying to get across is this. Who is out there that you think has a good chance of winning the elections in Puntland. You have pointed out the problem with President Cade Muse and what is the alternative or solution? See I've been to Puntland for extended periods of time. They will never allow history to repeat itself. That is why the people complaining are coming from abroad. Most of all the people of Puntland will never allow what happened in 1991 to occur again, i.e getting rid of Siad Barre and having no one who can take over, REGARDLESS how bad it might have been under him! So like I said, who will win? Do you truely believe these people coming from North America will win who have no names? President Cade made a name for himself, who out there has a name?

[Peace Action]

Miskiin,

Read Camir's link and tell me if our pastoral democracy is not legtimate. The main idea is to have a process were people are staisfied with their representatives. In the case of Puntland, the reps are quite independent and seem to take their duties seriously.

[Paragon]

Originally posted by Jimcaale:

Ciisoow: It's unfortunate in this time and age, in meesha ay noqoto sida masqul. Basically take a dump at people's face or drop a bomb. As much as I deplore Yeey's policies in PL, mostly the place was stable.

Jimcaale , I know it comes across as all doom and gloom, and what makes it even more unfortunate, is the fact that the common man on the ground doesn't have much regard for good leadership, as opposed to who can be the better bidder for his vote. As such, hadduu Cade lacag ku filan helo, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets re-elected. He might as well buy'em out . When one looks at Cade's Admin it is somehow strange that Yey's time at the PL helm now seems like THE golden era. For shame.

 

Originally posted by Caamir:

Isseh, salan sare, do you think these exploration deals and projects would be viable since the secessionists are as well flexing their muscles to probably send troops to Al Mado basin and Nogal?

 

Is it possible a tactical collaboration between the two entities with the blessings of the United States and Ethiopia?

Caamir , I think these exploration projects are going to the dogs this time around. What is somehow hidden from instant view is that the tensions over these projects does not only involve locals and Puntland admin, but rather supra-regional states and super-powers. I think the reason why PL figures have invited Ethiopians into the table isn't what most people would think it is.

 

I have a gut feeling that Ethiopia's involvement is really about the appropriation of possible mining incomes PL might gain from prospecting companies, due to the fact that the Ethiopians have recently expressed misgiving about suspected ONLF use of Bosaaso port. The Ethiopians are skeptical of Cade and Cade himself is frightened that in addition to their primary concerns, the Ethiopians might simply take over control and put him on a leash.

 

Furthermore, Ethiopians are getting all the more reasons to station their troops in that region as long as PL and SL's muscle flexing continues. On collaboration, I think that is somewhat hard to foresee. Meesha lacag baa laga hadlayaa and those who think they have the proper controls over the matter would play a zero-sum game, owing to their out-standing hostilities. As for Ethiopia and the US, hmmm, why would they collaboration with un-equal partners when they have it all?

[Paragon]

Extra Info.

 

Somalia: illegal $45 Million deal in Puntland to Drill oil

 

 

ogadishu (HAN) March 23, 2008- Range Resources Corporation announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock. A dividend of $0.04 per common share is payable on March 31, 2008 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2008.. Because of Range Resources Ltd said its joint venture partner on the Nogal and Dharoor Blocks Africa Oil Corp has committed to spending 45 mln usd on a four-well drilling programme. Range said the funding will allow the joint venture to earn its 80 pct interest in the blocks, which are located in the Puntland concession in Africa.

 

Last month, Africa Oil secured a rig contract with Singapore's Energi Tata Related Products Persada for the drilling of two wells, with a two well option. No financial details were disclosed at the time.

 

According to the MP, the Puntland leader introduced a bill - "The Oil and Minerals Law of Puntland State Government" - which he expects lawmakers to debate and ratify, so that foreign firms can be drilling in the region.

 

There are deep divisions within parliament regarding the new oil law, which some lawmakers see as illegal, since only the Somali federal government has the constitutional authority to sign international agreements. Somalia`s Prime Minister, Nur Adde, directly addressed the illegal oil drilling issue in Puntland and his close associates told HAN (Horn of Africa Newsline) & Geeska Afrika magazine, it is illegal any Puntland`s unilateral agreements with any foreign oil companies; the PM will take any diplomatic and local action to stop such illegal drilling, sources added.

 

Reason: The drill start date is scheduled for Aug 1 this year, although Range said it is confident drilling will begin before this date. Range Corp. and its farm in partner, Canada-based Africa Oil, issued a press release last month detailing drilling plans in Puntland, which the companies hope to begin by August.

 

Range Resources, an ASX and AIM-listed explorer, also released its first half results today, which showed pretax loss from continuing operations nearly doubled in the period to 8.3 mln aud from 4.2 mln aud a year ago.

 

In the second-half of 2008, the company said it plans to start a seismic programme in the northern Darfoor block, finalise a contract to commence an initial seismic program and mobilize a drill rig into Puntland to initiate more comprehensive mineral exploration activities by Range

 

The deep divisions within parliament regarding the new oil law, which some lawmakers see as illegal, since only the Somali federal government has the constitutional authority to sign international agreements. Somalia`s Prime Minister, Nur Adde, directly addressed the illegal oil drilling issue in Puntland

 

Sources: Geeska Africa Magazine & HAN reporter in Baidao

 

 

The HAN & Geeska Afrika Online - a regional nonprofits IGAD2020 Center for Media and Democracy works to strengthen stability by promoting IGAD sustainable media that are "of, by and for the people." Our projects include regional security watch, a weekly investigative journal; which offers daily reporting on spin and propaganda in the news; and the Horn of Africa Newsline, HAN watch, a weekly-based investigative journalism resource to which anyone-real able, including you - Geeska Afrika Online readers and HAN, can contribute.

[Paragon]

Editorial

Somalia: Puntland leadership undermining national order

By

Mar 23, 2008 - 10:16:44 AM

 

SUNDAY EDITORIAL | The Somali leader's dubious silence on the exploration matter is a testament either to his lack of control (over Muse) or his complicity in the illegal affair.

 

The men who resist the Ethiopian-imposed project in south Somalia are targeted with tanks, artillery shells and the full onslaught of the joint Somali-Ethiopian military. Granted, that many such men are responsible for a relentless wave of guerrilla attacks on government positions, especially in the national capital Mogadishu . But there are others in the resistance who do not wield weapons, but speak loudly of their condemnation of Ethiopian soldiers on Somali soil. The Ethiopian-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has arrested several men for speaking out against the Ethiopian army, or shut down media houses for voicing the civilians' enduring misery.

 

The war in Mogadishu is primarily aimed at flushing out extremist groups and establishing the framework for a federal government system in Somalia , following 17 years of civil war. The TFG is mandated to institute regional governments that fall under its jurisdiction and pay taxes to Mogadishu . The State of Puntland , in Somalia 's northeast, has been a self-governing region since 1998. Locals clans allied to form a regional autonomy with the aspiration of being a "building block" for a future federal Somalia . Thus, the image of Puntland has been enshrined to represent the first prototype federal state in the country; a state that upholds federal laws, defends the nation's sovereignty and assists would-be regional governments establish the foundations of governance.

 

Muse and Yusuf

But the cast of characters in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, has no desire to help Somalia recover from years of war, poverty and suffering. The Puntland leadership – men like President Adde Muse, VP Hassan Dahir Afqura and Finance Minister Mohamed "Gaagaab" Ali – would rather collect a quick buck before they help feed a poor family of four, with no father to speak of. Today's drastic situation in the Puntland regions is a testament to the catastrophic leadership failure of Muse and his cronies. The economy is on the brink of collapse, with record-prices for food and other necessary goods, mainly due to the illegal practice of printing counterfeit Somali Shillings. The Puntland government's complicity in the counterfeit currency scandal is another worrying indication of these men's aberrant hunger for money. The security situation is at its worst level since the breakdown of central government in 1991; in Garowe, the heart of Puntland, women are afraid to walk at night for fear of robbers and rapists. In the fields of education and healthcare, the Muse administration has continued on its disappointing track of empty promises and hollow speeches.

 

Yet, this administration of remarkable incompetence continues to daydream of striking gold – or oil, to be more precise. Since mid-2005, the government of Puntland has pursued every avenue to legitimize an agreement permitting foreign companies to explore the region's rumored natural resources wealth, including unproven oil reserves. This agreement was first signed with Maldives-registered Consort Private, Ltd., but transferred to an Australian company, which in turn sold shares to a Canadian firm. All these "deals" are taking place in foreign capitals, as if the Berlin Conference is still in session and the rights of the Somali people are not recognized, or worse, represented by an ineffective ruler like Adde Muse.

 

The facts on the ground have not changed since 2005. Nor did they change since 1998, when the State of Puntland was established as a transitional authority by local clans until federal governance is restored. Contrary to what Puntland government officials often claim, natural resources found in Puntland, or in Mogadishu for that matter, do not "belong" to the government. The land that Somalis have been fighting each other for belongs to the various clans; this, essentially, is the deep roots of the Somali conflict.

 

This is the main reason the Puntland government and its Australian partners, Range Resources, Ltd., failed in their first endeavor to collect mineral samples in parts of Sanaag region. In March and April 2006, Sanaag clans fought bitterly against Puntland security forces that were dispatched to the remote mountains to protect a team of foreign scientists conducting geologic work for Range. The deadly skirmishes forced Puntland and Range officials to suspend operations, due to the high risk for more violence. The most astonishing thing about the whole episode is that there had never been any report of battles in the village of Majiyahan , Sanaag, before the Puntland-Range push for exploration.

 

The local clan, the Warsangeli, felt alienated by the Muse administration and its unilateral drive to encroach on clan lands without permission and attempt to exploit its resources. When Puntland was formed following the Garowe Conference, the Warsangeli clan, like other Puntland clans, did not sign an agreement stating that the land (i.e. Sanaag) belongs to the government of Puntland. The founding points of the regional autonomy did not grant such grand authority to the government, or to its corruptible leaders. Many conflicts in Somalia are rooted at the question: Who owns the land? The southern port of Kismayo , the country's third-largest city, is a living example relating to the conflict of land ownership.

 

The Puntland leadership is undermining national order by continually disobeying the constitution of the Transitional Federal Government, to which Puntland is a signatory. Thousands of people are dying in Mogadishu because the TFG wants to impose a federal system, while the Puntland leadership is allowed to offer supportive lip service to the TFG but conduct business independently. As officials from foreign companies and the Ethiopian military meet exclusively with Puntland leaders, one wonders if the TFG controls anything.

 

It is commendable that TFG Energy Minister Mohamud Ali Salah publicly denounced Muse and his illegal activities, including making an oil law for Puntland. But Muse needs a more forceful exertion of pressure, namely from his former nemesis, President Abdullahi Yusuf. The Somali leader's dubious silence on the exploration matter is a testament either to his lack of control (over Muse) or his complicity in the illegal affair. When one compares the armed suppression of Mogadishu for failing to tow federalism, and the free hand granted to Puntland, one wonders if Yusuf is really genuine about the federalism project.

 

If Yusuf does not rein in Muse quickly, armed resistance might not be limited to Mogadishu alone.

 

Garowe Online Editorial, editorial@garoweonline.com

[Thankful]

Garowe Online is written by the sons of Abdirahman Faroole, the disgraced Puntland minister who tried taking over parliment and rob Puntland when he was finance minister under Abdullahi Yusuf. He wants to run from president and is waiting before he starts campaigning. These guys are obsessed with the whole OIL stuff, he has his own company in Italy he wants to bring. Expect a lot more articles of this nature.

[Baashi]

^Maybe so. Still this GO editorial has legs to stand. Can you refute the crux of the editorial instead of impeaching the owners of the portal?

 

The trouble with folks is not that they don't know anything in any given topic -- to paraphrase Twain -- but they know too much that ain't so.

 

Boowe this particular editorial is closer than close to the truth.

 

Greed is the mother ship of all ills and my man Cadde and his minions are thick of it. I know so buddy.

[NASSIR]

Originally posted by Isseh:

[ As for Ethiopia and the US, hmmm, why would they collaboration with un-equal partners when they have it all?

No I meant a possible Somaliland and Puntland accord over these deals, brokered by U.S. and with the help of Ethiopia, to probably reinstate previous contracts held by MN corporations prior to 1991. History might repeat itself. For instance, in 1910, there was an Anglo-Italian cooperation to resolve disputes between Sultan Ali Shirreh and Boqor Osman so they could jointly combat the Dervishes. (The Mad Mullah and Northern Somalia, 427). So things may go this way though we won't admit the direct interferance of United States into these ongoing resource conflict for players like Somaliland and Puntland elites and the inhabitants, but I have a firm conviction in the authenticity of such direct interferences concerning Al Mado and Nogal basins by the United States government.

 

Thanks for the articles, commentaries and editorials. They are quite insightful.

[Paragon]

Hmm, history IS repeating itself mate. In a semilar colonial manner, local leaders/elders are selling themselves to the highest bidder, and I wouldn't be surprised if what you ponder actually turns out to be the case. But I must question: external interventionism, should you expect anything positive from it? I don't know about such arrangements, but every fibre in my body equally detests and distrusts Ethiopia/US as cheparones. I just can not hear their names and not get psyched up!

[Thankful]

Baashi, I don't read articles by people who can't even sign their names to it. It's one thing if they are scared of arrest back home, but they are based in Australia.

 

And yes, the owners of the portal's motives are extremely important when believing the article.

[Peace Action]

These are articles are full of opinions with no facts to backup. For the life of me I could not understand why some people are against oil/mineral exploration. This is just exploration does not mean their is oil under the ground. Why do'nt you wait until oil is found, then there will be something tangible to argue about.

 

Somalis are the most ungrateful people on earth, Cade at least is trying to address economic problems through these explorations. At least he is creating wealth rather then looting it.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

Few things for Somalipride, while you keep talking about "these foreigners" have you forgoten that cade is a canadian. Second, cade was elected a few more votes then hashi thanks to the foorale guy you keep bad mouthing who gave cade the few suppoters he had in parliament, it was not a landslide or anything of the sort and after the way he has performed, no sane member of the puntland would elect him again. And why on earth would you want that guy back again?