SUNDAY EDITORIAL | Did Range Resources uphold its end of the bargain with the same intensity, or was President Muse "played" like the typical African leader with an unnatural appetite for quick cash?

The widely reported collapse of Australian securities firm Opes Prime Group Limited has far-reaching consequences not only for the company and its staff, but for other companies linked to Opes Prime, their shareholders and, surprisingly, the people of Puntland, a self-governing region in north Somalia. Australian newspaper The Age has expertly documented the unceremonious financial fall of Opes Prime and detailed other companies affected by the collapse, including Range Resources, Ltd., a junior oil and gas firm that claims to be "exploring" for oil in Puntland, Somalia.

Interesting characters have emerged following the publicized collapse of Opes Prime, namely a Mr. Leo Khouri and a Mr. Peter Landau. Yes, the same Peter Landau who happens to be the executive director of Range Resources. According to The Age report, both Mr. Khouri and Mr. Landau traveled to Puntland, in a trip that featured a

The $250,000 check in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia

photo-op where the Range company representatives handed clan elders and government officials there a check worth $250,000. For the record, the clan elders received only $90,000 from that exact check, which they contributed towards the construction of an airport in Garowe, the capital of Puntland. However, what remains absolutely astounding is the level of influence Mr. Khouri has with Range Resources and the lack of public scrutiny prior to The Age report.

But what of the better known character in Puntland, namely Mr. Landau? Did Puntland government officials know that Mr. Landau is also the director of a small biotech company with suspicious links to Russia? It remains unknown whether or not Mr. Landau completely duped his Puntland partners, especially President Mohamud "Adde" Muse.

Since mid-2005, Muse has practically gambled his political future in Puntland on the success or failure of an exploration agreement he inked with Range Resources. That agreement has caused much raucous throughout Somalia, leading to bloodshed in some extreme cases and sparking an enduring constitutional tug-of-war between the Puntland regional autonomy and the UN-endorsed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, with TFG officials arguing that only the Federal Government has the constitutional authority to manage Somalia's natural resources.

While the debate in Australia centers on Opes Prime, the millions of dollars it lost, and the families of affected companies, the debate in Puntland is primarily focused on ascertaining that characters with shady pasts (or present) do not come anywhere near the country's God-given natural resources wealth. President Muse's naïve attitude towards shifty foreign companies led him to immorally spill the blood of his brothers, in Sanaag region, for the sake of upholding the controversial agreement with Range. But now one wonders: Did Range Resources uphold its end of the bargain with the same intensity, or was President Muse "played" like the typical African leader with an unnatural appetite for quick cash?

The people of Puntland, and Somalis in general, need a strong government founded on the principles of unity, justice and compromise. Like any other government, upholding the rule of law, protecting citizens, their properties and assets, and promoting the well-being of society remains an obligatory duty. But the Muse administration of Puntland has placed much focus – and fuss – on fantastic daydreams of getting rich by exploring for oil and other natural resources in a country torn apart by years of civil war, foreign military occupation and terrorism.

Since Muse came to power in Puntland, the region has experienced an unprecedented rise in crime, including piracy, human trafficking and kidnappings. This is mainly due to corrupt and negligent practices at all levels of government, because unpaid members of the security forces are not willing to face criminals. Muse has neglected the concerns of ordinary citizens in Puntland for far too long, while he continues to favorably carter to the interests of shady foreigners.

It is now quite evident that Range Resources will suffer financial losses due to its links with Opes Prime, combined with concern in some circles that company officials might be investigated by the Australian government.

Does the Puntland leader now have the courage to confront today's in-your-face reality or continue to let others take advantage of his naivety?

Garowe Online Editorial, editorial@garoweonline.com