Exclusive: Western oil exploration in Somalia may spark conflict - U.N. report

[Tillamook]

By Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau

 

UNITED NATIONS | Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:19am EDT

 

(Reuters) - Western commercial oil exploration in disputed areas of Somalia and discrepancies over which authorities can issue licenses to companies could spark further conflict in the African nation, U.N. monitors warned in a confidential report.

 

In the U.N. Monitoring Group's latest annual report to the Security Council's sanctions committee on Somalia and Eritrea, the experts said the Somali constitution gives considerable autonomy to regional governments to enter commercial oil deals.

 

But a petroleum law that has not yet been adopted by the country's parliament but is being invoked by federal officials in the capital Mogadishu says that the central government can distribute natural resources.

 

"These inconsistencies, unless resolved, may lead to increased political conflict between federal and regional governments that risk exacerbating clan divisions and therefore threaten peace and security," the experts group said in an annex to its annual report, which was seen by Reuters.

 

The overthrow of a dictator in 1991 plunged Somalia into two decades of violent turmoil, first at the hands of clan warlords and then Islamist militants, while two semi-autonomous regions - Puntland and Somaliland - have cropped up in northern Somalia.

 

Around a dozen companies, including many multinational oil and gas majors, had licenses to explore Somalia before 1991, but since then Somaliland and Puntland and other regional authorities have granted their own licenses for the same blocks.

 

In some cases Somaliland and Puntland have awarded licenses for blocks that overlap. The experts said one such case involves Norwegian oil firm DNO and Canadian-listed Africa Oil Corp.

 

"Potentially, it means that exploration operations in these blocks, conducted by both DNO and Africa Oil under the protection of regional security forces, its allied militia or private forces, could generate new conflict between Somaliland and Puntland," the report said.

 

"It is alarming that regional security forces and armed groups may clash to protect and further Western-based oil companies interests," it said.

 

"In this case, the involvement of a Norwegian company on one side and of a Swedish-owned/Canada-based company on the other, is even more disturbing, considering the long-standing implication of Norway and Sweden in promoting peace and dialogue in Somalia," the experts said.

 

Bjorn Dale, DNO's acting president/managing director and general counsel, said he was not familiar with the U.N. experts' recent report but said that the company would never engage in activities that threatened peace in Somaliland.

 

Africa Oil was not immediately available for comment.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

 

Somalia is struggling to rebuild after decades of conflict and a U.N.-backed African Union peacekeeping force is trying to drive out al Qaeda-linked Islamist rebel group al Shabaab. Piracy off the Somali coast is also a problem.

 

The U.N. experts also expressed concern about a clash between a longstanding bid by Norway to urge Somalia to implement an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off its coast with commercial interests by a Norwegian oil company.

 

Under the U.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea, an EEZ would allow Somalia 12 nautical miles of territorial control with claim to sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage natural resources that exist within 200 nautical miles.

 

The U.N. convention then requires Somalia to negotiate a maritime boundary with Kenya, which the U.N. experts said could lead to several disputed oil exploration blocks being deemed to be in Kenyan waters.

 

The U.N. report said late last year that Kenya had suspended Statoil's license for block L26 because the Norwegian company did not want to spend money on exploration while there was the legal uncertainty over the maritime border with Somalia.

 

A Kenyan government official told the U.N. experts that Statoil had expressed an interest to develop the area should a boundary be agreed with Somalia and the L26 block was deemed to be in Kenyan waters.

 

"Efforts by Norway to lobby Somali officials to adopt the EEZ now coincide with current Norwegian interest in the fate of L26 as well as with Norwegian involvement in the application of a Special Financing Facility donor fund of $30 million which has been allocated under the management of (Somali government) officials with a track record of corruption," the report said.

 

The experts suggested that Norway's development assistance to Somalia could be used "as a cover for its commercial interests there," a claim it said Norwegian International Development Minister Heikki Eidsvoll Holmas has denied.

 

Norway's U.N. mission did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

 

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Paul Simao)

[Tillamook]

Wakaalada wararka ee Reuters ayaa wax ka qortay xog ay ka heshay Qoraalka ay Guddiga Qaramada Midoobay (UN) u qaabilsan arrimaha kormeerka cunaqabateynta saaran dalalka Soomaaliya iyo Eritereya, ayaa warbixintooda ka digay dhaq dhaqaaqa ay ka wadaan gudaha Soomaaliya qaar kamid ah shirkadaha shidaalka baara.

 

Warbixintan ayaa lagu sheegay in wadanka Norway uu hada si weyn lugaha kula jiro arrimaha Soomaaliya, isla markaana ay dagaalo ka dhalan karaan mashruuca shidaal baaristan ee maamulka Somaliland u saxiixay shirkada Batroolka baarta ee laga leeyahay dalka Norway, ee lagu magacaabo DNO. Gooaha maamulka Qandaraaska Somaliland ku siiyeya yaa waxaa kamid ah dhulka ay isku heystaan maamulada Puntland iyo Somaliland, halka Puntland ay dhankeedana qandaraas noocaas ah horey u siisay shirkada African Oil oo fadhigeedu tahay dalka Canada.

 

Madaxa shirkada DNO oo lagu magacaabo Bjorn Dale oo arrintan ka jawaabay ayaa sheegay in shirkadaasi aysan marnaba ku kici doonin wax khal khal geliya amniga Somaliland.

 

Warbixinta guddiga oo ay si hoose u heshay wakaalada wararka ee Reuters ayaa lagu sheegay in hada Dowlada Federaalka wado sharciga Macdanta iyo Batroolka Soomaaliya, kaasi oo isaguna keeni kara xiisad ka dhalata dalka Soomaaliya, sida qoraalkaasi lagu yiri Dowlada Federaalka ayaa aaminsan inay iyadu tahay mid bixin karta qandaraasyada Macdanta Soomaaliya iyo khayraadka kale, arrintaasi oo isku dhac ka dhex dhalin karta maamulada horey u jiray sida Somaliland iyo Puntland.

 

Warbixintan ayaa si gaar ah loogu soo qaatay dhaq dhaqaaqa uu wado wadanka Norway oo dhawaan $30 Milyan oo dollar ugu deeqay dowlada Federaalka Soomaaliya, lacagtaasi deeqda ah ayaa lagu tilmaamay mid lagu kabayo hay’adaha dowliga ee Federaalka, balse waxaa la rumeysan yahay in dhaqaalahaasi wadanka Norway ku doonayo inuu saameyn ku yeesho sharciga macdanta ee Dowlada Federaalka ay wado iyo waliba heshiis la dhex dhigo dowlada Somaliay iyo Kenya oo isku heysto qeybo kamid ah biyaha Bada Soomaaliya.

 

Shirkada ugu weyn ee Shidaalka soo saarta ee wadankaasi Norway ee loo yaqaan Statoil ayaa sanadihii lasoo dhaafay xiiso weyn u heysay inay batrool ka baarto biyaha u dhaxeeya Soomaaliya iyo kenya arrintaasi oo xiisad siyaasadeed dhalisay.

 

Dowlada Kenya ayaa qandaraaska ku siisay shirkada Norway ee Statoil inay baarto nawaaxiga aaga L26 oo ah (zone-ka) biyaha bada oo ay isku heystaan Somaliya iyo Kenya. Shirkada Norway ayaa joojisay baaritaankii ay halkaasi ku sameyn lahayd kadib markii ay ogaatay xiisada ka dhex taagan Soomaaliya iyo Kenya oo horey loo horgeeyey Qaramada Midooay.

 

Mid kamid ah Saraakiisha Dowlada Kenya oo aan magaciisa la shaacin oo wareysi siiyey Guddiga Kormeerka ee Qaramada Midoobay ayaa u xaqiijiyey in Dowlada Kenya shirkada Norway u saxiixday aaga L26 oo uu sheegay inay iyagu qabaan inuu yahay dhul-badeed ka tirsan Kenya, arrintaasna la xalin doono.

 

Wasiirka Horumarinta Caalamiga ah ee wadanka Norway Mr.Heikki Eidsvoll Holmas ayaa horey u beeniyey in dowlada Norway deeqda ay siisay dowlada Soomaaliya wax xiriir ah la leedahay arrimaha batrool baarista iyo aaga ay isku heystaan Kenya iyo Soomaaliya ee Zone L26.

 

Guddiga Qaramada Midoobay ayaa horey ugu cambaareeyey dowlada Federaalka Soomaaliya musuq maasuq baaxadleh iyadoo warbixintan qeyb kamid ah horey loo shaaciyey si weyn loogu dhaliilay maamul xumada ka jirta Bangiga dhexe ee dowlada Federaalka Soomaaliya, warbixintaasi hore ayey si weyn u beeniyeen madaxda dowlada Federaalka gaar ahaan Wasiirka Maaliyada iyo Guddoomiyaha Bangiga Dhexe.

 

Horseed Media

[Duufaan]

this makes sense now

 

Ra'iisal Wasaaraha Soomaaliya oo ka Laabtay Go'aankii Sharciga Badda ee ay Gaareen June 6, 2013?

 

Xukuumadda Shirdoon oo Baarlamaanka Soomaaliya u Gudbisey Xeerka Kalluumaysiga kaasoo Badda Soomaaliya kusoo koobaya 12 miles, laguna tirtirayo Xeerkii Badda Soomaaliya ee Law No. 37

 

Sida ku cad qoraal ay xukuummada Fedaraalka Soomaaliya u gudbisay Baarlamaanka, ayaa badda Soomaaliya kusoo koobaya 12 mayl baddeed oo kaliya halkii ay ka ahayd 200 oo mayl baddeed oo Territorial Waters ah.

 

Ra'iisal Wasaaraha Soomaaliya mudane Cabdi Faraax Shirdoon iyo Wasiirka Khayraadka Dalka Cabdirisaaq Cumar Maxamed ayaa gudbiyey qoraal ay ku saxiixan yihiin, loogana gol leeyahay inuu noqdo sharciga kalluumaysiga Soomaaliya, qoraalkaas oo ka kooban 20 bog waxaa lagu hagaajiyey gudoomiyaha Baarlamaanka Mudane Maxamed Shiikh Cismaan Jawaari, Raysal wasaaruhuna wuxuu ka codsaday inuu Baarlamaanka horgeeyo gudoomiyuhu si deg deg ahna u meel mariyo.

 

Aan ku hor maro qodobo kamid ah qoraalka loo gudbiyey Baarlamaanka sida ay u qornaayeen, kadib markay golaha wasiiradu ka doodeen ansixiyeena, isla markaasna loo gudbiyey Baarlamaanka si uu'u noqdo sharciga Kalluumaysiga Soomaaliya leedahay, marka laga hadlayo badda iyo Khayraadka badda. Qodobo kamid ahna waxay u qornaayeen sidatan;

 

***

 

Qoddobka 2aad

 

ERAY-BIXIN

 

Ujeeddada xeerkan, eray walba wuxuu leeyahay macnaha ku hor qoran:

 

4- Dhulka Badda: Macnihiisu waa dhulka biyaha badda ee ilaa 12 mayl (12 miles) u jira xeebta Soomaaliya, iyadoo la tixraacayo xeerka Qaramada Midoobay ee Sharciga Baddaha 10kii December 1982

 

5- Dhulka Badda (Contiguous Zone): Macnihiisu waa soohdinta dhaw ee dhula badda Soomaaliya, waxaa lagu qeexaa zooka contiguous-ka, soohdintaas oo aan ka badan karin 24 (nautical miles) marka laga soo xisaabo xariiqda aas aas ka (baseline) kaas oo laga soo cabirayo dhulka badda.

 

6- Dhaqaalaha Gaarka ah ee Soohdinta: Waxaa loola jeedaa dhulka ay ku fadhiyaan biyaha garabka ku haya dhulka badda oo ah ilaa 200 (nautical miles) marka laga bilaabo xeebta Soomaaliya, cabirkaasoo laga tixraacayo Qaramada Midoobay ee xeerarka sharciga badda ee 10ka Decembar 1982.

[warsamaale]

in other words let africa's resources not be exploited and africans continue needing our aid, i hate western liberal/leftist bleeding heart scum to death. they were complaining about bolivian quinoa seeds being exported, it was bringing in lots of money for the farmers. but as usual this scum always have something to complain about. there mus be a special place in hell for them.

[Tillamook]

^

There's nothing wrong with exploiting resources for the benefit of both the locals and the west. A win-win business transaction is a must if we are to avoid unnecessary conflict.

[Miyir]

Duufaan;969293 wrote:

this makes sense now

 

Ra'iisal Wasaaraha Soomaaliya oo ka Laabtay Go'aankii Sharciga Badda ee ay Gaareen June 6, 2013?

 

Xukuumadda Shirdoon oo Baarlamaanka Soomaaliya u Gudbisey Xeerka Kalluumaysiga kaasoo Badda Soomaaliya kusoo koobaya 12 miles, laguna tirtirayo Xeerkii Badda Soomaaliya ee Law No. 37

 

Sida ku cad qoraal ay xukuummada Fedaraalka Soomaaliya u gudbisay Baarlamaanka, ayaa badda Soomaaliya kusoo koobaya 12 mayl baddeed oo kaliya halkii ay ka ahayd 200 oo mayl baddeed oo Territorial Waters ah.

 

Ra'iisal Wasaaraha Soomaaliya mudane Cabdi Faraax Shirdoon iyo Wasiirka Khayraadka Dalka Cabdirisaaq Cumar Maxamed ayaa gudbiyey qoraal ay ku saxiixan yihiin, loogana gol leeyahay inuu noqdo sharciga kalluumaysiga Soomaaliya, qoraalkaas oo ka kooban 20 bog waxaa lagu hagaajiyey gudoomiyaha Baarlamaanka Mudane Maxamed Shiikh Cismaan Jawaari, Raysal wasaaruhuna wuxuu ka codsaday inuu Baarlamaanka horgeeyo gudoomiyuhu si deg deg ahna u meel mariyo.

 

Aan ku hor maro qodobo kamid ah qoraalka loo gudbiyey Baarlamaanka sida ay u qornaayeen, kadib markay golaha wasiiradu ka doodeen ansixiyeena, isla markaasna loo gudbiyey Baarlamaanka si uu'u noqdo sharciga Kalluumaysiga Soomaaliya leedahay, marka laga hadlayo badda iyo Khayraadka badda. Qodobo kamid ahna waxay u qornaayeen sidatan;

 

***

 

Qoddobka 2aad

 

ERAY-BIXIN

 

Ujeeddada xeerkan, eray walba wuxuu leeyahay macnaha ku hor qoran:

 

4- Dhulka Badda: Macnihiisu waa dhulka biyaha badda ee ilaa 12 mayl (12 miles) u jira xeebta Soomaaliya, iyadoo la tixraacayo xeerka Qaramada Midoobay ee Sharciga Baddaha 10kii December 1982

 

5- Dhulka Badda (Contiguous Zone): Macnihiisu waa soohdinta dhaw ee dhula badda Soomaaliya, waxaa lagu qeexaa zooka contiguous-ka, soohdintaas oo aan ka badan karin 24 (nautical miles) marka laga soo xisaabo xariiqda aas aas ka (baseline) kaas oo laga soo cabirayo dhulka badda.

 

6- Dhaqaalaha Gaarka ah ee Soohdinta: Waxaa loola jeedaa dhulka ay ku fadhiyaan biyaha garabka ku haya dhulka badda oo ah ilaa 200 (nautical miles) marka laga bilaabo xeebta Soomaaliya, cabirkaasoo laga tixraacayo Qaramada Midoobay ee xeerarka sharciga badda ee 10ka Decembar 1982.

Ma la hubaa? barlamaanka soo fasax kuma jiro? waa khatartii ugu weeyneed haddeey rumoowdo arintaan

[Cambuulo iyo bun]

it sucks to be a third world country

[Tallaabo]

Puntland's awarding of exploration licenses for Somaliland regions is like China awarding licenses to explore California. It is absurd and is rightly ignored by the Somaliland government as nothing more than verbal politicking aimed at misleading the locals of that province.

[Tillamook]

^

The same can be said about somaliland awarding exploration rights to Puntland territory. But either way, neither Silanyo nor Faroole have the legitimacy and wherewithal to allow a foreign company to dig for oil in lands that do not belong to them. They may sign whatever they like but at the end of the day waa hal bacaad lagu lisay

[Miyir]

the sad part ex-Warlords parliament was more patriotic then the new government and parliament? why no one is pointing out this sell out?

[Miyir]

nightmare if this true http://somalitalk.com/2011/badda/difaac107.html

 

anyone who can update us? why no one is protesting?

[Miyir]

I am very concerned about this, anyone with the facts?

[Tillamook]

Miyir, iska adkeyso...there's nothing anyone can do about this because it the same western governments that fund the government of Somalia that are pushing for this.

 

The day an independent Somali government comes into existence will be the day we insist on our territorial waters and what's under them. In the meant time, tough luck!