17 April 2001
The Chinese oil mission, delegated by some private firms, to the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia - which had reportedly withdrawn from Nugal Region in southern Puntland on 10 April, following local protests against its activities - has been described by the Puntland administration as in fact having been "enthusiastically welcomed" by local communities. A senior official told IRIN that the mission had not been obstructed, as had earlier been reported by local Somali media. The official said that no official agreement on exploration had yet been signed between the firms and the Puntland administration, and that the mission had merely been carrying out a preliminary fact-finding exercise. Elders had joined Puntland officials in receiving the mission, said the official.
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