"Exploration activity not fuelling conflict in Ethiopia’s Ogaden region – Africa Oil"

Africa Oil has interests in several exploration concessions in Ethiopia. It is important to note that in all of the countries in which we operate, including Ethiopia, we do so within both international and national laws and follow industry best practice...Some media reports have linked our presence in this block to the on-going conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a pro-independence movement in Eastern Ethiopia...This conflict has been going on for decades and passed through various periods of intense fighting followed by peace talks...Accusations have also been laid against us that by operating in Ethiopia as a whole, and therefore being provided with armed security by the Ethiopian government, we are somehow complicit in the conflict. In virtually all African countries, extractive companies who are there conducting legal business, are required to use security provided by the national governments should it be needed...It is unreasonable to suggest that all of these companies are therefore somehow accountable for every action undertaken by state security forces outside of their sphere of influence...It is unreasonable to suggest that all of these companies are therefore somehow accountable for every action undertaken by state security forces outside of their sphere of influence.