BREAKING NEWS: Somali Region’s Oil Wealth Sparks Tensions as Mustaf Omar Faces Accusations of Siding with Addis Ababa
Dalmar TV Newsroom | July 26, 2025
The Somali Regional State (SRS) of Ethiopia, home to the resource-rich Ogaden Basin, is at the heart of growing controversy over the control and benefits of its vast oil and natural gas reserves. Despite containing over 7 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas and potentially hundreds of millions of barrels of oil, local communities accuse regional President Mustaf Mohamed Omar (Cagjar) of prioritizing the federal government’s interests over those of the Somali people.
Mustaf’s Role Under Scrutiny
Since assuming office in 2018, Mustaf has been praised for bringing stability after years of conflict. However, opposition voices accuse him of supporting the federal government’s opaque plans to exploit the region’s resources while dividing Somali communities.
Mustaf’s critics claim, “He is helping the regime lure local leaders with false promises to legitimize oil projects that will leave ordinary Somalis empty-handed.” A spokesperson from the Somali diaspora added, “Mustaf’s actions risk splitting the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and undermining our struggle for sovereignty and fair resource control.”
Voices from the Frontlines
An ONLF representative told Dalmar TV,
“The federal government and its regional collaborators are selling out our land and resources. This so-called peace is being used as a cover for resource plunder.”
Local community elder Abdirahman Yusuf said,
“We have seen no benefits from decades of drilling. Instead, we lose our homes, our farms, and our future while outsiders reap the profits.”
The Resource Divide
Despite the massive reserves, the Somali people receive less than 2% of revenues, with most oil jobs given to workers from Ethiopia’s central highlands. The Chinese firm Poly-GCL, expelled in 2022, reportedly owes $1.7 million in unpaid community fees, with no environmental assessments conducted in the Ogaden Basin.
Residents in Qorahay and Shabelle zones describe displacement and land destruction, while company compounds enjoy uninterrupted power and water—highlighting the stark inequality in the region.
A Critical Moment for Mustaf and the Somali Region
Analysts warn that unless Mustaf Mohamed Omar demands transparency, fair revenue sharing, and meaningful community consultation, the region’s fragile peace risks collapse. The Ogaden Basin holds the potential to generate billions annually—but only if the Somali people are no longer sidelined.
Dalmar TV will continue to provide updates as this story develops.
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