The last assault earlier this month by the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) on Sinopec unit Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau, which was drilling a well for Hongkong-based operator Southwest Energy, left scores of military personnel dead. Six Chinese nationals were kidnapped and later released.
In an emailed statement to Upstream, the ONLF's London representative said its "policy is not to allow any oil exploration to take place in the Ogaden unless there is a comprehensive political settlement to the Ogaden issue".
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