Raid on Abole oil exploration facility
| Abole oil field raid | |
|---|---|
 Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Somali region. | |
| Location | Abole, Somali Region, Ethiopia |
| Date | April 24, 2007 6:00 am[1] (UTC+3) |
| Target | Abole oil field |
| Deaths | 65 Ethiopian workers 9 Chinese workers 7 Chinese workers taken hostage. |
| Injured | Unknown |
| Perpetrators | File:ONLF flag.svg Ogaden National Liberation Front |
The Abole oil field raid occurred in the early morning of April 24, 2007 when gunmen of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) attacked a Chinese oil company's premises in the town of Abole, 30 km (18 miles) northwest of Degehabur, in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. 74 people, including nine Chinese workers working for the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau under the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), were killed.[2][3][4].
The attack shocked the public and many became worried it might push away foreign investors from coming to the country. Most of the Ethiopians killed in the massacre were daily laborers, guards and other support staff. Some members of the Ethiopian security officials were also killed during the surprise attack. It was the largest single attack committed by ONLF.[5]
The Abole attack came just as Ethiopian forces in Mogadishu were involved in fierce fighting with Somali insurgents.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "China strongly condemns attack on Chinese oil company site in Ethiopia". Embassy of People's Republic of China in the United States of America. 2007-04-25. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
- ^ "A letter sent to BBC by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of FDRE". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ^ "Scores die in Ethiopia oil attack". BBC News. 2007-04-24. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
- ^ "9 Chinese workers killed by gunmen in Ethiopia's Somali state". Xinhua News Agency. 2007-04-24. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Ethiopia:Oil companies suspend operations". Garowe Online. 2007-04-28. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
- ^ "Collective Punishment: War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity in the Ogaden area of Ethiopia's Somali Regional State". Human Rights Watch. June 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
External links
- "China oilfield in Ethiopia attacked". Aljazeera.net. Al Jazeera English. 2007-04-24. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
- "ONLF Statement On Military Operatio Against Illegal Oil Facility In Ogaden". Onlf.org. Ogaden National Liberation Front. 2007-04-24. Archived from the original on 2007-04-29. Retrieved 2007-04-25.