Friday, July 4, 2025 — HAN
Addis Ababa — The Ethiopian government has officially announced a historic milestone: the successful extraction of oil from Ethiopia’s Somali Region — marking the first time in the nation’s history that oil has been produced domestically.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made the announcement while addressing Parliament this week, confirming that for the first time, Ethiopia has brought to market oil extracted independently from within the country. He stressed the strategic importance of this development, noting that all his previous visits to the Somali Region were closely tied to overseeing the region’s covert drilling operations.
“Today is a proud day for Ethiopia,” said Abiy. “For the first time, we are joining the ranks of oil-producing nations, benefiting from our own natural resources. This marks a major transformation in Ethiopia’s energy future.”
The announcement follows years of secret exploration and drilling activities in the eastern part of the Somali Region, which borders resource-rich areas in neighbouring countries. When asked why the project was kept confidential, the Prime Minister explained that Ethiopia’s geopolitical position and internal challenges made it necessary to proceed in secrecy.
“We have many enemies — both internal and external — who would have tried to sabotage this progress,” he told Parliament. “That is why we chose to work quietly until we were fully prepared.”
The Prime Minister also announced a major strategic shift in Ethiopia’s energy policy. A previously proposed project to export natural gas from the Somali Region via Djibouti has been shelved. Instead, the government will prioritize domestic energy security, declaring that the newly extracted oil will be sold and refined within Ethiopia.
This development is expected to have wide-reaching implications — from reducing the country’s dependency on imported fuel to creating jobs and potentially transforming the Somali Region into a major economic centre.
Energy sector analysts are awaiting further details regarding production volumes, refining capacity, and long-term infrastructure plans, as Ethiopia prepares to enter the complex global energy market for the first time.
For now, Ethiopia celebrates a historic victory — one that many hope will fuel more than just vehicles, but the beginning of a new era of economic independence. On the other hand, when this news emerged, the people living in the Somali Region (Kilil 5), a Somali territory under Ethiopian control, woke up to a harsh reality — that oil was being extracted from their land without their input or consultation. There is a possibility that this move by the Ethiopian government could spark new conflict, as the local people are witnessing their resources being taken right in front of them without any say or consultation.”
