VZCZCXRO7527
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #1291/01 1160620
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 260620Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5850
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001291 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR: DS/IP/AF, DS, IP/ITA, AF/E, AND CA/OCS/ACS 
S/CT FOR B.PHIPPS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC ASEC PTER ET
SUBJECT: ADDIS ABABA EAC MEETS TO ASSESS SECURITY SITUATION IN 
OGADEN REGION OF ETHIOPIA AFTER KILLINGS/KIDNAPPING OF    CHINESE 
OIL WORKERS AND ETHIOPIANS. 
 
 
¶1. (U) ACTION REQUEST: See paragraph 9. 
 
¶2. (U) On March 25, Post's Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met to 
assess the security situation in Ethiopia's Somali (Ogaden) Region 
in response to previous day's attack on a Chinese oil drilling 
facility.  EAC members present included COM, DCM, ORA, DAO, CJTF 
HOA, POL/ECON, USAID, CDC, CONS, Peace Corps, Health Unit, MGT, PAS, 
MSG and RSO. 
 
¶3. (U) The RSO briefed the EAC regarding the situation.  On March 
24, an armed group of 200 individuals conducted a day-time attack on 
a Chinese oil drilling operation located in Abole, Ethiopia.  Abole 
is located in the Somali (Ogaden) Region, approximately 60 miles 
south of the regional capital (Jijiga) and approximately 20 miles 
from the border with Somalia.  The following casualties were 
reported as result of this attack: 
 
-  9 Chinese oil workers killed; 
 
-  7 Chinese oil workers kidnapped; 
 
-  20 Chinese oil workers wounded; 
 
-  65 local people residing outside the oil camp killed. 
 
-  An unknown number of Ethiopian troops securing the area reported 
killed and injured. 
 
¶4. (U) The size of this attack indicates it was well planned and 
organized.  An Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) spokesman in 
London has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was in 
response to exploitation of resources (oil) by the GOE and other 
outsiders in their region.  The statement by the ONLF further 
advised that future attempts by the GOE and foreigners to exploit 
the resources in the region would result in similar action. 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) The RSO advised the EAC to revise the consular information 
sheet to discourage American citizens from traveling to the Ogaden 
and Somalia border regions unless they are directly involved in the 
implementation of humanitarian relief efforts.  Travel to this 
region by personnel under Chief of Mission authority is carefully 
reviewed, and only approved on a limited case-by-case basis in 
concurrence with the executive Office.  The RSO advised the EAC he 
is inclined to disapprove most travel by personnel under COM 
authority to the region for security concerns. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The EAC agreed the above consular information sheet 
guidance should be strengthened in response to the above situation. 
The proposed updated guidance will state as follows (subject to 
approval from the Department): 
 
BEGIN TEXT. 
 
Since the mid-1990's, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) 
and government forces have clashed around Harar and in the Somali 
regional state, particularly in the Ogaden region.  In April 2007, 
the ONLF claimed responsibility for attacking a Chinese oil 
exploration installation near Jijiga, in Ethiopia's Somali Region, 
after battling government forces.  The attack resulted in several 
Chinese nationals killed or sequestered, and caused numerous 
Ethiopian civilian and military casualties.  Cross-border travel by 
road from Ethiopia into Somalia is not advised.  Somali groups 
affiliated with terrorist organizations may occasionally operate 
within the Somali, Oromiya, and Afar regions. Additionally, in 
December 2006, the Ethiopian Government announced military 
operations against the Council of Islamic Courts in Somalia.  An 
African Union peacekeeping force, AMISOM, is currently deployed in 
Somalia, but military operations continue in Mogadishu as of April 
¶2007.  American citizens are reminded that the U.S. Embassy strongly 
discourages travel to the Ethiopia's Somali Region and that a Travel 
Warning has been issued advising against all travel to Somalia. 
 
END TEXT. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The EAC also agreed this situation merited the following 
proposed warden message (subject to approval from the Department): 
 
 
BEGIN TEXT 
 
The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa strongly discourages American 
citizens from traveling to Ethiopia's Somali Region (Ogaden). An 
April 24 armed attack against a Chinese oil company installation in 
this region resulted in the death, kidnapping and wounding of 
Chinese personnel, in addition to the death and wounding of numerous 
local citizens.  American citizens are reminded that the U.S. 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00001291  002 OF 002 
 
 
Embassy only approves travel of Embassy personnel to the Somali 
Region (Ogaden) of Ethiopia on a case-by-case basis.  American 
citizens are advised to remain vigilant, avoid demonstrations or 
large gatherings, and to be cautious when frequenting prominent 
public places and landmarks. 
 
END TEXT 
 
¶8. (SBU) While the ONLF's statement indicates this attack was 
conducted against GOE military and foreign oil prospecting personnel 
in response to exploitation of resources in their region, this 
incident resulted in the deaths of a large number of indigenous 
individuals who reside in the area immediately surrounding the oil 
drilling facility.  While the EAC agreed this attack and the ONLF's 
threats are not directed against USG or international humanitarian 
relief interests in the region, one cannot discount the fact it was 
conducted on a large scale, resulted in a large number of 
casualties, and that the Ogaden is a large, desolate region with 
little law and order and is rife with banditry, especially in the 
rural areas. 
 
¶9. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Given the unprecedented nature and scale of 
this attack, which resulted in deaths of third-country nationals, 
Post requests the Department review and consideration of what steps 
should be taken to raise the ONLF's position on the Department's 
terrorist exclusion list.  Post will continue to monitor the 
situation and will report additional details SEPTEL. 
 
¶10. (SBU) The Ambassador has sent condolence letters to Prime 
Minister Meles and the Chinese Charge.  The Defense Attache has sent 
condolence letters to his contacts at the Chinese Embassy and the 
Ethiopian Military. 
 
YAMAMOTO