Wednesday September 11, 2024
FILE - Ahmed Elmi Osman (Karash), Former Vice President of Puntland, during a meeting in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia.
Garowe (HOL) — Ahmed Elmi Osman (Karash), the former Vice President of Puntland, has warned international companies about the Holhol oil field in Somalia's Sool region. His comments follow an announcement from Somalia's Minister of Petroleum, who revealed new oil exploration agreements, including the Holhol reserve.
Karash criticized the agreement, emphasizing that the oil exploration efforts in the Holhol field were made without consulting the rightful authorities in the region.
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"We want to make it clear to international companies that they should not waste their time on the Holhol oil field or other resources in the region. No one has the legal authority to finalize such agreements without following the proper legal process and securing joint approval," Karash stated.The Federal Government of Somalia has recently struck an oil exploration deal with Turkey, which plans to send a ship to the Somali coast in October to start surveying offshore oil reserves.
Although Holhol is inland and not part of the coastal exploration, it is one of the suspected oil-rich areas included in the government's exploration plans. However, questions remain as to whether the Somali government consulted with the SSC Khaatumo administration, which controls the region, before making this decision.
Karaash's warning follows Puntland's April declaration that it will operate independently from Somalia's federal institutions until a new constitutional framework is agreed upon by all Somali stakeholders, including Puntland. The semiautonomous region, home to 4.9 million people, withdrew recognition of the federal government after constitutional changes were made without what it claims to be proper negotiation. These changes include allowing the president to appoint a prime minister without parliamentary approval and introducing direct presidential elections.
Puntland officials have accused the federal government of undermining Somalia's unity and warned that any agreements made without regional input could threaten the already fragile state-building process.