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Somalia: Puntland Ruler's Relative Resigns From Range Resources
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Garowe Online (Garowe)
22 July 2008
Posted to the web 22 July 2008
A relative of a regional ruler in northern Somalia's Puntland state has resigned from the Board of Directors of an Australian mining firm, which has a controversial contract to explore for oil in Puntland.
Range Resources, Ltd., in a July 22 statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, stated that the "...Mr. Liban Bogor has resigned as a Director of the Company to work exclusively for the Puntland Government."
Mr. Bogor has been a well-known character in Puntland political circles since 2005, when he helped negotiate Range's contract with President Muse for exclusive explorations rights in Puntland.
But he has never held any official position with the Puntland government to date.
Range's letter also stated that its partner, Canada-based Africa Oil Corp., which has an 80% stake in the Puntland concession, has "primary responsibility in dealing with the Puntland Government."
The company's letter indicated that the Board of Directors is "developing a strategy" that would focus mainly on exploration for gold deposits in Western Australia, marking a significant shift from Range's focus on Puntland affairs since mid-2005.
Although the letter suggested that Mr. Bogor "resigned" voluntarily, confidential sources have confirmed that contractors pressured Range and Africa Oil officials dismiss Mr. Bogor from the exploration project.
On July 6, Somali news agency Garowe Online reported that employees of IMC - a contractor for Africa Oil in Puntland - were unhappy with Mr. Bogor's role in the project.
Inside sources said Puntland leader Muse became angered recently when IMC "closed its office doors" to Mr. Bogor.
Critics have accused the Puntland leadership of neglecting the region's security and economic development in pursuit of an ambitious oil exploration project.
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One analyst told Garowe Online that Range has "begun to distance itself" from Puntland affairs, as President Muse's term in office comes to an end in January.
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