Ethiopia’s federal government has announced they’ve begun selling oil and gas from the Ogaden basin on local markets. In a candid interview published on Ethiopian Business News, the ministry of mining and petroleum Samuel Urukto confirmed th extraction of crude oil and natural gas is under way.

The minister revealed the federal government has extracted (looted) 1,650 barrels produced locally in the Ogaden basin. As a result the government has racked in neary 56,000 US dollars worth of revenue the ministry went on to say.

The full details of the extraction and revenue are supposed to be presented to Ethiopia’s parliament in the next few weeks. Both the federal government and the parliament have already approved the installation of a pipeline from the oil rich Ogaden basin to the port of Djibouti. This multi billion dollar pipeline is yet to be implemented.

The ministry of mining and petroleum also revealed that upon the installation of the pipeline, the Ethiopia’s government has signed agreements with three companies to develop the Calub and Hilala oil fields. Ironically the minister refused to mention the names of those companies according to Ethiopian Business News. 

The Calub and Hilala oil sites contain some of the most lucrative oil deposits in the Horn of Africa. In the past, companies such as Poly GCL Petroleum Investment Ltd have attempted to extract oil and natural gas from these areas but have failed due to the region being a conflict zone for decades.

The areas surrounding Calub and Hilala have seen some of the worst atrocities in mankind. In the past, Ethiopian troops have wiped out dozens of towns and villages surrounding these lucrative oil sites. Entire communities forced to flee as much of the surrounding areas of Calub Hilala remain inhospitable for humans and livestock due to Ethiopian troop presence in the region.

It’s not clear weather, the recent statement from the ministry of mining and petroleum is accurate. The Somali regional state (Ogaden) have not commented on the Federal governments claims of extracting oil and gas. Which means authorities in Jigjiga are either powerless to stop the looting or complicit in the crime themselves.

The federal government of Ethiopia under the leadership of the pseudo prime minister Abiy Ahmed continues to show his true colors more often as time progresses. The prime minister continue to use low level EPRDF policies against Somalis in the Ogaden. A prodigy of the former ruling TPLF Junta, the prime minister Abiy Ahmed has once again shown his complete disregard for Somalis.

We will keep you updated with the latest developments from the region.