Somaliland

Somalia: Puntland’s Anti-piracy Forces—Smokescreen for Hunting Oil & Minerals Unlawfully

January 9, 2011   ·   1972834 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fsomalia-puntland%25e2%2580%2599s-anti-piracy-forces%25e2%2580%2594smokescreen-for-hunting-oil-minerals-unlawfully-19728Somalia%3A+Puntland%E2%80%99s+Anti-piracy+Forces%E2%80%94Smokescreen+for+Hunting+Oil+%26+Minerals+Unlawfully2011-01-09+22%3A47%3A09Mo+Guledhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D19728

Throughout the history of oil and mineral explorations, in many developing countries wherever there is the potential for oil or minerals, there is bloodshed, and no society suffers more than the indigenous people of the region under exploration (or exploitation). Repeatedly, greedy foreign oil companies that perceive the “uncooperative” locals as pests or minorities that oppose devolvement and cruel local government officials (or thugs) who put more values on livestock than humans, invade the unsuspecting indigenous people. Furthermore, more recently, if they don’t abide by the grand strategy of deception, disinformation, and pillaging their natural resources, the local civilians will be on every major television news outlet—portraying their region as the newly discovered terrorists’ den, not a region that has abundant potential for oil and minerals. And no sooner are the locals silenced with an over sized pillow than the looting begins.

In 2005, as soon as the Rangers Resources, a dubious Australian mining company, signed an agreement with Puntland to explore hydrocarbons in eastern Sanag province of Somaliland, not Puntland, a fighting between the Warsangeli clan that inhabits the area and the Puntland’s dominant Majeerteen clan erupted. Although a deadly battle raged, at least ten local Warsangeli clan members lost their lives, the locals successfully repelled the invading Puntland militia.

Meanwhile, greedy Rangers Resources, as hungry as locusts, respected not bounds. Knowing that eastern Sanag region falls within Somaliland boundaries, nonetheless, the company swooped down on Somaliland territory unlawfully and instantly began exploring it.

On the other hand, Somaliland protested against Rangers Resources’ illegal entry into the country but avoided getting embroiled into a conflict with Puntland militia, in order to apprehend the trespassing foreign employees. In January 2006, the former Somaliland Foreign Minister, Abdullahi Mohamed Duale issued a stern warning to the Rangers Resources. He stated,” They cannot enter Somaliland, nor carry out exploration or mining activities in our country, and if they should do so, will face whatever action that Somaliland deems necessary to protect the integrity of its territory.”

But Somaliland’s patience soon paid off. The eastern Sanag inhabitants, furious of how the deal was truck and how their natural resources were divided between Puntland leaders, took up arms.

Gen. Mohamud Muse Hersi a.k.a Gen. Adde, then the governor of Puntland, supposed to receive one-third of any oil profits, where his clan’s man Col. Abdullahi Yussuf, the president of Somalia at the time, claimed another one-third. The local Warsangeli clan members who collaborated with Puntland to pillage their natural resources supposed to receive only one-third of the profit. Almost, 70% of profit was divided between Gen. Adde and Col. Yussuf. Righteously, through the eyes of the Warsangeli people this was a bad deal. They got the shaft.

After a deadly clash in Majihaan area where at least ten Warsangeli fighters lost their lives, the fighting ceased. Back then, the Warsangeli forces were led by none other than the recently well-publicized, alleged “terrorist” named Mohamed Said Atom, who was also hostile to Somaliland. Initially, he engaged a bitter fight against Puntland to protect his region’s resources and to avenge for young Warsangeli men crowded in Puntland prisons. Back then, he was never categorized as a terrorist, nor was he one. His militants simply opposed Majeerteen-dominated Puntland taking two-third of the oil profits. Even VOA news shared this view as it stated, “The rivalry between the sub-clan boiled over into a bloody confrontation in 2006, when Mohamed Said Atom’s militia attacked Puntland security forces to protest exploration rights the government gave to an Australian mining company in the mineral-rich Sanaag and western Bari regions. The Warsangeli said the deal was struck without its permission.”

But Puntland’s failure to flush out the Warsangeli fighters forcefully not only exasperated the authority but also compelled it to change its tactics. It realized that it needed an external support to uproot the oil-deal opponents—“the minorities”, as Rangers Resources later categorized them, and Puntland labeled them as terrorists. More important: a reason to wage the war was needed—one that catches the attention of the International community and dominates the headlines. Fighting against terrorism! Bingo! Theoretically, every terror story has an enemy (real or perceived). Similarly, Puntland created an enemy.

Meanwhile, Wasangeli fighters decided to reorganize themselves better and assemble a strong militia to protect their resources. This militia was led by Mr. Atom. Enjoying local support and adverse terrains, he placed his forces deep in the remote mountainous region of Galangal. This maneuver frustrated Puntland officials, further.

Soon Puntland began feeding the U.N. and the world massive doses of undiluted disinformation about Galangal region. The region was vilified as a hide out for Alshabab terrorists and delinquents led by Mr. Atom. It was also labeled as a hub for weapons destined to the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) forces, ethnic Somalis fighting for self-determination and opposes Ethiopia’s tyranny, in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, a friend of Puntland, provided the weapons while possibly Rangers Resources contributed much needed resources to neutralize Mr. Atom and the Warsangeli clan fighters. Soon Galangal—the reputedly “terrorist” den—dominated the headlines, just as Puntland wanted. Mr. Atom was accused of undertaking terrorist attacks against Puntland and blamed for countless assassinations, of course, without a tinge of evidence. The rest was history.

Now, although Mr. Atom and his forces were defeated, a new problem emerged. After Puntland forced thousands of innocent villagers to flee and showcased two young local fighters as terrorists, where subsequently they were executed few days later, the authority celebrated prematurely. Its leader, Abdurahman Mohammed Faroole, declared victory over Mr. Atom’s militia. Mr. Faroole stated, “I declare victory over Al Shabaab terrorists who want to threaten Puntland’s stability…we don’t know if their local leader [Atom] is alive or dead…” (Oh lord, help us all! Did he take a leaf out of George Bush’s book?) But angry Wasangeli clan members began regrouping and rearming themselves—a new unexpected threat. Yet again, the need for another dubious mission to misguide the world became necessary: Puntland forces against piracy! Bingo again! But this is the same pricy which keeps Puntlnad officials in offices, just as the Italian mafia influences some Italian leaders. In fact, a U.N. monitoring report almost argues that the kingpin of piracy is none other than Mr. Faroole himself. The report states, “Several candidates in the leadership contest of January 2009, which saw Abdirahman Faroole accede to the Puntland presidency, accepted significant campaign contributions from pirate leaders. “

Now, with over 250 South African mercenaries on the ground, along another thousand newly created Puntland soldiers (or rehabilitated pirates) in training camps, resistance from the Warsangeli clan neutralized by force under the pretext of uprooting imagined “terrorists”, and more important: with millions of dollars from unknown oil company, probably Rangers Resources, at Puntland’s disposal, the Somali authority is ready to march the mountainous eastern Sanag region of Somaliland in search of oil and minerals. And Rangers Resources would stumble over more human skeletons than minerals.

Surely, Rangers Resources would do whatever it takes to explore eastern Sanag region. The company’s desperation and willingness to displace hundreds of local villagers in search of oil and minerals is beyond belief. Just to illustrate what Rangers Resources is willing to undertake, an Australian newspaper, namely Sydney Morning Herald reports, ”In a sign of just how desperate oil companies are becoming to replace reserves, a mystery “oil major” has signed a letter of intent with Range Resources. Range has the rights to 50.1 per cent of the oil and minerals in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland in Somalia – a place that oil majors like Houston’s Conoco abandoned in the face of civil war 15 years ago. The civil war is over in that part of Somalia. But the Warsangeli clan is upset at the Puntland Government’s handling of the Range deal and Somali sources report 10 people have died in clashes with the president’s militia in the last month.”

Additionally, Rangers Resources’ indifference to los of local people’s lives and its total disregard for the villagers is illustrated by none other than its attitude. Rangers Resources declares, “There will always be a minority opposed to our project for various reasons…”

Time will come when Rangers Resources will face prosecution, but it clearly has blood in inst hands. Brazenly, the company illegally explores eastern Sanag and perhaps hopes that Somaliland will sit idle. However, Somaliland is in fact buying time; at the right time, rest assured, Somaliland forces will apprehend Rangers Resources’ employees. By then, neither Australia nor any other nation could free them once the trespassers are charged. Because right now Australia does not protest against Rangers Resources’ illegal activities, much less stop it. As such Australia will have no say once Rangers Resources’ employees end up in Somaliland’s notorious prison: Mandheera.

Meanwhile, Puntland officials know that their action could provoke Somaliland, and the International community would back up Somaliland, as it simply wants to secure its territory. But greedy Puntland officials would keep poking Somaliland and pushing the limits until Hargeisa, Somaliland capital, snaps—something that Somaliland is reluctant to do.

But, recently Somaliland spoiled the joy. A plan loaded with weapons and military uniforms for Puntland militia unexpectedly landed in Somaliland capital, Hargiesa’s airport. Whether the plan ran out of fuel as the Somaliland officials said, or the U.S. forces tracked it and forced it to land in Hargeisa is debatable. But it was reported as soon as the governor of Puntland region, Mr. Faroole learned the fate of the plane, he called and implored Somaliland officials to release the plane and its cargo while keeping everything undisclosed.

Somaliland, however, did exactly the opposite; it invited the U.N. to examine whether the plane’s military cargo is in clear violation of the United Nation’s arms embargo imposed on Somalia. Ever since then, Puntland unleashed a barrage of absurd verbal assaults against Somaliland. Accusing Somaliland to supporting terrorists, having ties with Alshabab, and destabilizing Puntland, just to name few, all these travesties of the facts are responses to Somaliland’s intransigence to handover the plane and its military cargo to Puntland.

To sum up, although Puntland blamed Mr. Atom for countless assassinations and terrorists activities, there was not a shred of evidence that he did so. In fact, assassinations were common in Puntland way before he took up arms, just as they are common today, long after his defeat.

No one was certain about whether Mr. Atom was a notorious terrorist as he was portrayed by the authority, however; without a doubt, we know that Puntland was guilty in invading Somaliland territory as much as he was culpable in carrying out terrorism.

Clearly, there was more to Puntland’s terror story than meets the eye. What was the typical dispute between two Somali clans, such as Wasangeli and Majeerteen, over resources, was portrayed as a war against terrorism—where the Wasangeli clan was vilified as a terrorist. As such not only Puntland terrorized thousands of villagers in eastern Sanag region but also displaced them.

Currently, Puntland’s reckless adventurous not only could ignite a bloody war between Somaliland and Puntland but will also cause a major setback to U.S.’s dual-track approach to stamp out the spread of Alshabab terrorists in southern Somalia.

What Puntland should understand is that many of the dubious tricks that it uses today have already been tried, but to no avail. Now, whether it labels the local people of eastern Sanag as terrorists, or accuses Somaliland of harboring extremist groups, will neither win Puntland cheers at the U.S., nor give its fabricated stories more credibility.

Without a doubt, the solution to the problem lies within Puntland leaders’ hands. What they need to do is: abandon their incursions into Somaliland territory, pay compensations to the locals, and warn Rangers Resources against trespassing into Somaliland and exploring its territory tantamount to looting.

Dalmar Kaahin
Dalmar_k@yahoo.com

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By Mo Guled

Tags: African Oil, Al shabaab, Puntland, Puntland. President, Sanaag