JOURNAL: Chinese Oil men and Guerrillas in Ethiopia

The ONLF has stated on numerous occasions that we will not allow the mineral resources of our people to be exploited by this regime or any firm. An ONLF spokesman to Reuters.

On April 24, a China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. oil field in eastern Ethiopia (near the Somali border), was attacked by gunmen (presumably by the Ogaden National Liberation Front, the ONLF, an ethnic Somali group that has fought alongside rebels in Somalia). 74 people were killed, including 9 Chinese oil workers. 7 Chinese workers were kidnapped by the assailants as they withdrew under pressure from responding Ethiopian troops. This attack is yet another example of how guerrilla groups are using attacks on companies (to influence corporate psychology) to fight the states that rely upon them for funding (although a close read of this incident suggests that it was the group stumbled upon the right strategy for the wrong reasons). We can expect to see more of this in the future. In addition to the implications for warfare, this may presage the beginning of the end of the easy road for China's aggressive oil acquistions in Africa. Over the last decade, China has increasingly fed its enormous appetite for oil (upwards of 40% of the growth in demand for oil is from China), through deals with African regimes that have significant problems (from genocide to guerrilla wars to rampant corruption). I also suspect that this will significantly shorten the time it takes to see Chinese PMCs (private military companies) in Africa.

Comments

[Ortho]

I'm glad you shared your thoughts on this event.

I find the ONLF's use of technology fascinating. They use websites and email to plan, communicate, threaten, and claim responsibilities for attacks.

Technology shall provide an infrastructure that allows fragmented global guerrilla groups to integrate into an unstoppable global multitude.

I enjoy reading your blog. I cannot wait until my library purchases your book.

[Duncan Kinder]

"this may presage the beginning of the end of the easy road for China's aggressive oil acquistions in Africa."

Asia Times Online has posted a number of stories about how China is becoming increasingly unpopular throughout Africa.

[Duncan Kinder]

As a follow-through to my prior post, read the following articles:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/IC13Ad01.html

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/IB08Cb08.html

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/IB01Ad01.html

Note also todays Washington Post article:

"China's Expansion Puts Workers in Harm's Way
Attack on Ethiopian Oil Field Highlights Political Perils of Pursuing Resources Abroad"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/25/AR2007042500736.html

[LoneDriver]

Really appreciate your site, but it's Ogaden aka Abyssinian Somaliland.