By TesfaNews,
AN ETHIOPIAN rebel group today warned a Chinese firm against natural gas exploration in the Somalia region of Ogaden.
The Ogaden Liberation Front (ONLF) accused the Chinese company of partnering with the Ethiopian government to illegally exploit resources of the Somalia region of Ogaden in addition to providing surveillance and funds for the army and Liyu-Police.
The front also accuses Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn for his irresponsible statement.
“The statement made by the Ethiopian Prime Minister that “in two years, we plan to start exporting and using natural gas from those areas (Ogaden)” as reported by Reuters on March 27, 2015 from Addis Ababa, has no basis in reality and will not happen“, warned ONLF.
The Ethiopian government is committing Human Rights violations that are tantamount that fulfill the criteria for genocide by collectively targeting and punishing particular section of the civilian population in Ogaden such as by starvation, mass killings, rampant gang rape and forceful displacement.
“Let analysts underestimate the capabilities of the Ogaden Liberation Army and let the Ethiopian regime deny the raging war inside Ogaden. However, all shall rest assured that those who attempt to loot the natural resources of the Somali people in Ogaden, while abusing the human rights of the people and denying their basic democratic rights, will fail abysmally,” adds the statement issued by the rebel group.
The rebel group warned it would not tolerate foreign companies to enter economic partnerships with the Ethiopian government to loot the natural resources of the Somali people in the Ogaden.
The group threatened it will launch a retaliation attacks against those foreign companies if they don’t desist from the illegal exploration activities.
“The Ogaden Liberation Army is capable, well equipped, in good strength and has unbending intent to protect the rights and natural resources of the Ogaden people until a just solution to the Ogaden conflict is achieved.”
In the past, ONLF rebels stormed a Chinese-run oilfield in the Ogaden region killing 74 workers including 9 Chinese and completely destroyed the facility.
