Somali Officials Deny Selling Oil Rights

[Demure]

By Nick Wadhams
Nairobi
08 August 2007

Officials with Somalia's transitional government are promising not to begin searching for oil until after parliament adopts a new petroleum law and their shattered country achieves peace. But as Nick Wadhams reports from Nairobi, new evidence suggests they are looking to carve up oil rights.

Last month, the Financial Times reported that President Abdullahi Yusuf had awarded Prime Minister Gedi and his staff are promising not to sign any deals until a natural resources law is enacted. Parliament is scheduled to consider the bill this week.

Somalia's ambassador to Kenya, Mohamed Ali Nur, denies there is a split within the Somali government. He tells VOA that officials understand peace must come to the turbulent country before exploration begins.

"I do not believe that any deals have been signed and even the one by the Chinese company I think the prime minister gave an interview to a news agency saying that it is annulled and he was not aware of it and nothing can be signed until the law is passed," said Nur. "The reports that we have been getting from different sources is that we have a lot of resources we can explore, but peace should come first."

The priority that officials are putting on oil, despite Somalia's turbulence, is another sign that many African leaders are looking to oil to jump-start their economies.

Neighboring Ethiopia's battle with a rebel group in the east is believed to be partly the result of its desire to protect what it believes are natural resources there. The rebel group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, has warned oil companies to stay away, and killed 74 people in a raid on a Chinese-run oil facility in April.

Oil experts say the previous estimates about Somalia's small reserves are based on outdated technology. Dianne Sutherland, the editor of Petroleum Africa magazine, says Somali officials have quietly been laying the groundwork for a potential oil boom.

"Until they actually get in there and start utilizing this new technology to have a new look, you do not really know. Oil exploration will definitely get underway in Somalia. 'When?', is the question. They have already signed quite a few contracts with various smaller independent exploration companies," said Sutherland.

Any new concessions will no doubt raise questions for the companies that had exploration rights in Somalia before the 1991 civil war began.

Source: VOA, Aug 08, 2007

[Demure]

Somalia does not need Oil exploration at this time, we do not have a properly functioning government let alone laws and regulations that would protect Somali interests and prevent any potential exploitation from those foreign comapanies.

But ofcourse those individuals proclaiming to be Somali Officials are thinking only of the possible measurable gains to themselves and not of Somalia.

[MJ-Pride]

Look at Sudan Demure. The Chinese Company took the all the risk in the world and produced a lot of oil for the Sudanese people. Darfur was just miles away. I think if Somali can get oil, then the government will be stronger and will have a lot of money to pay the national army and build stronger Somalia

[*jr]

VOA broadcast is repeating old reports...I guess they have hired demented people without nexus/Lexus ability to search newly/old news reports about Somalia. printing this report this day of Aug 8, 2007 shows why VOM is lacking news of Somalia.

[*Arabman]

The TFG is illegitimate; it was elected by war criminals, warlords, corrupt politicians, thugs and unsavory elements. It wasn't elected by the citizens of Somalia. War criminals, warlords, corrupt politicians, thugs and unsavory elements do not represent the citizens of Somalia. Therefore, any deal signed by the TFG is null and void.

[Alluring]

Arabman, living in an illusion.


Insha'allah oil will not be found in Somalia anytime soon, the hawiye's will kill far worse than they did previously!

[MJ-Pride]

[quote="*Arabman"]The TFG is illegitimate; it was elected by war criminals, warlords, corrupt politicians, thugs and unsavory elements. It wasn't elected by the citizens of Somalia. War criminals, warlords, corrupt politicians, thugs and unsavory elements do not represent the citizens of Somalia. Therefore, any deal signed by the TFG is null and void.[/quote]

Lool. Like they need to listen your drival. This will go ahead and there is nothing you and all dhagacas can do about it

[MJ-Pride]

[quote="Alluring"]Arabman, living in an illusion.


Insha'allah oil will not be found in Somalia anytime soon, the hawiye's will kill far worse than they did previously![/quote]


Alluring, Hutus land doesnt have Oil at all. The Oil is in Puntland between Las anond and Garowe. Hutus can't get past Galkayo. They will be shot point blank

[Alluring]

[quote="MJ-Pride"][quote="Alluring"]Arabman, living in an illusion.


Insha'allah oil will not be found in Somalia anytime soon, the hawiye's will kill far worse than they did previously![/quote]


Alluring, Hutus land doesnt have Oil at all. The Oil is in Puntland between Las anond and Garowe. Hutus can't get past Galkayo. They will be shot point blank[/quote]

I know they don't, but animals always have ways.

[MJ-Pride]

[quote="Alluring"][quote="MJ-Pride"][quote="Alluring"]Arabman, living in an illusion.


Insha'allah oil will not be found in Somalia anytime soon, the hawiye's will kill far worse than they did previously![/quote]


Alluring, Hutus land doesnt have Oil at all. The Oil is in Puntland between Las anond and Garowe. Hutus can't get past Galkayo. They will be shot point blank[/quote]

I know they don't, but animals always have ways.[/quote]

Alluring whats with this Miskiin talk? you think Hutus dare to even try attacking Galkayo? The Galkayo Border will be sealed abaayo..

[Alluring]

This is not miiskin talk, walal.

What I mean to state is the Hawiye will make it worse for Somalia as a whole. I was born in Xamar and that will always be my heart.

I really don't like talking about regional divisons.

[MJ-Pride]

If they behave we might throw them a bone or some .

[The-Screw]

when you're pocketing few million dollars off the record and making 50 year contracts with oil companies of course you're going to deny it, you don't want to upset the public now do you?

[Demure]

MJ Pride, You can not compare Sudan to Somalia. Sudan did not go through a long civil war as Somalia did and they have a functioning GOVERNMENT! Somalia does not.

Jr*, Reuters also reported it today or yesterday I believe. The story is just recently further probed into, hopefully the cockroaches (if any) will be flushed out eventually.

Arabman, it's in the interest of the Western World to maintain this illegitimate TFG, therefore it will be that much harder to get rid of them altogether at the local level.

[*jr]

[quote="The-Screw"]when you're pocketing few million dollars off the record and making 50 year contracts with oil companies of course you're going to deny it, you don't want to upset the public now do you?[/quote]

If you would want to look at that way...many of us would want to know how much your being paid to monitor Som'Net. Indeed you’re not the best-paid compare to Cade Muse of Puntland, yet your salary is also obscure from us..........

You see Mr. Screw; we all are prospective on how we do on things, and none of us are living on earlier century, we are all eyes in this century. I hope we contunue on being Somalis instead of hearsay Somai-land