Somalia: UN report warns of Puntland-Somaliland oil conflict
Oct 21, 2014 - 05:32:35 AM
GAROWE/HARGEISA, Somalia Oct 20, 2014 (Garowe Online)-United Nations
Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea has warned of looming threats of
instability in northern Somalia as a result of Oil Protection Unit (OPU)
being proposed by Somaliland's separatist administration, Garowe Online
reports.
Though Somaliland has informed the 8-member panel of UN independent experts
that it would comply with weaponry embargo on Somalia, the move could
trigger armed confrontations between the visible forces, notably Puntland
and Somaliland in the disputed territory of Sool according to the report.
In accordance with inadequacy of information on the nature of Sool conundrum
by Somaliland Internal Affairs Minister Ali Mohamed Waran Adde , the
Monitoring Group has raised concern over OPU, advising Somaliland not to
attempt to import any weapons or training without United Nations Security
Council prior consent.
"The Group recommended a political dialogue to resolve disputes over
resource allocation in Somalia, and for the cessation of all commercial
activity in the oil sector," the report stated.
After speaking with Assaye Risk- a London-based risk assessment company and
Protection Unit design phase contractor-officials, UN monitors learned that
Somaliland wants to draw 580 personnel from the police and armed forces.
UK-based company clarified that the territorial force would include six
mobile support units of 36 personnel per mobile unit responsible for
accompanying and protecting oil industry personnel in the field.
Somaliland granted oil exploration licenses strongly challenged by Somalia
Federal Government and Puntland to bunch of foreign companies -Genel Energy,
Rakgas, DNO and Ansan Wikfs-which will be pushing ahead with seismic
activity following the completion of environmental impact assessments.
Political analysts who talked to GO voiced concern over hydrocarbon
management and standing differences between Mogadishu-based central
Government and Federal states when it comes to the oil deals.
On April 25, Somaliland troops seized Holhol village in Sool, with units
within the forces seizing strategic oil-rich targets.
In Septemper 2013, Anglo-Turkish Oil Exploration Company, Genel Energy
withdrew its expatriates from Somaliland due to political pressure with the
possibility that Federal Government of Somalia threatened license
revocation, Somaliland officials initially disclosed.
A spokesman for the company afterwards told that security issues forced them
to vacate the oil exploration fields in the separatist region.
Somaliland government awarded an exploration license for onshore blocks
SL-10-B and SL-13 with a 75% working interest in August 2012 but Garowe
Online was told that Somaliland renewed the previous license by signing
Oodweyne Production Sharing Agreement which covers blocks SL-6, SL-7 and
SL-10-A in November 2012 with Genel Energy Company.
The proliferation of Western commercial oil exploration companies is likely
to risk deeply embedded political division, diplomatic sources say.
On August 12, clan militiamen attacked foreign experts working for DNO near
Sool region town of Hudur.
Puntland and Somaliland, located in northern Somalia have been vying for
control of Sool and Sanaag regions in string of battles since 2000, with the
self-declared mini-state of Khaatumo more recently declaring it would seek
to exercise substantial autonomy without external influence, largely in Sool
region.
Received on Tue Oct 21 2014 - 08:36:55 EDT