Oilfield attacked

last updated 8 January 2015

Abole, Ethiopia

Ethnic Somali separatists attacked a Chinese-run oilfield in Ethiopia this week, killing at least nine Chinese and 65 Ethiopians before Ethiopian troops drove them back. The Ogaden National Liberation Front, a group fighting for independence for Ethiopia’s ethnic Somalis, claimed responsibility. “The oil facility has been completely destroyed,” it said. “We will not allow the mineral resources of our people to be exploited by this regime or any firm.” Ethiopia says the group is a proxy for neighboring Eritrea, its archenemy. But ethnic Somalis said they are fighting out of solidarity with their brethren in Somalia. Ethiopia invaded Somalia last year to topple Mogadishu’s Islamist government. That fighting continues.