Somaliland govt accuses HASS Petroleum of arming rebels

SOMALILAND.COM – Somaliland government today accused one of the biggest oil importers in the country of funding an insurgency in eastern regions.

Abdirahsid Haji Du’ale Qanbi, the minister of public works, and housing alleged that Hass Petroleum funds a nascent rebel group in Buuhoodle district. 

In a press conference at his office on Tuesday, minster Qanbe said the owners of Hass Petroleum fund the rebel group declared in Buuhoodle late last year. 

Besides Hass Petroleum, the minister accused another businessman in Mogadishu of funding the insurgency. 

He added that the government has contacted the traditional elder of Buuhoodle to warn them of devastation that conflict would bring to the district. 

Last year, Minister Qanbi called the new insurgency group announced in Buuhoodle s a private initiative led by people seeking fortune. He added that the group is led by individuals who are seeking profit and are funded by individuals in Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.

HASS or HASS Petroleum is a privately owned oil and investment company headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It was founded by Abdinasir Ali Hassan and his late brother Abdirizak Ali Hassan both originally from Somaliland. 

Along Somaliland, it has a presence in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC.

Hass Petroleum could not be reached to comment on these allegations.