| Abole oil field raid | |
|---|---|
Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Somali region. |
|
| Location | Abole, Somali Region, Ethiopia |
| Date | April 24, 2007 6:00 am[1] (UTC+3) |
| Target | Abole oil field |
| Deaths | 65 Ethiopian workers 9 Chinese workers 7 Chinese workers taken hostage. |
| Injured | Unknown |
| Perpetrator(s) | Ogaden National Liberation Front |
The Abole oil field raid occurred in the early morning of April 24, 2007 when gunmen of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) attacked a Chinese oil company's premises in the town of Abole, 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Degehabur, in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. 74 people, including nine Chinese workers working for the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau under the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), were killed.[2][3][4].
The attack shocked the public and many became worried it might push away foreign investors from coming to the country. Most of the Ethiopians killed in the massacre were daily laborers, guards and other support staff. Some members of the Ethiopian security officials were also killed during the surprise attack. It was the largest single attack committed by ONLF.[5]
The Abole attack came just as Ethiopian forces in Mogadishu were involved in fierce fighting with Somali insurgents.[6]