Ethiopia dismisses rebel threats
2006-04-26 17:39
Addis Ababa - Ethiopia has dismissed rebel threats to foreign energy firms considering work in the country's restive southeast, saying the area was stable with no risk to potential investment.
On Wednesday, the information ministry said the warning from Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) that natural gas exploration in the Ogaden region "will not be tolerated" was hollow and nothing new.
A ministry official said: "The government would like to assure residents as well as the companies interested in investing in gas field projects there that the threats of the ONLF will not be fulfilled.
Independence of ethnic Somalis
"They will not change the current peaceful situation in the region. The ONLF has been putting out these statements on a regular basis, there is nothing new there."
On Monday, the ONLF, which is fighting for the independence of ethnic Somalis living in Ogaden near the border with Somalia, warned all foreign firms, specifically mentioning two Indian companies, not to work in the area.
The warning read: "We wish to make clear that there is currently an armed conflict waging in Ogaden between Ethiopian troops and ONLF liberation forces resulting in an unsafe environment for any exploration to occur."
The Indian companies, Gail India Limited and the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited, were among energy concerns that had expressed interest in bidding to explore and develop Ogaden's Calub and Hilala gas fields.
True political, security environment
According to reports, seven of 19 firms were shortlisted to make final bids this week.
The ONLF said any firm interested in the fields should "cease and desist all engagement with the Ethiopian government in this regard and investigate for themselves the true political and security environment in Ogaden".
Ogaden, a dry belt, about 1 200km southeast of Addis Ababa, is believed to be lying on large quantities of gas, but further exploration is needed to verify the exact amount and develop the fields.
The ONLF was formed in 1984 to fight on behalf of the Ogaden people, who claim they have been marginalised and brutalised by the Ethiopian government.
Addis Ababa had repeatedly accused the insurgents of carrying out attacks on civilians.