BRAZILIAN OIL WORKER KILLED IN CABINDA PROVINCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 001281

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AO
SUBJECT: BRAZILIAN OIL WORKER KILLED IN CABINDA PROVINCE

Classified By: AMB DAN MOZENA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Armed bandits shot and killed an oil industry medic,
a Brazilian national, in the restive northern region of
Cabinda Province on December 26th, 2007. The incident
occurred when the Brazilian and a team of Angolan workers
were stopped by a group of seven armed men as they traveled
from an onshore concession area to their protected base camp.
The men ordered everyone from the vehicle and lit the
vehicle on fire. At that point a second jeep in the convoy
approached; the bandits apparently panicked and fled,
shooting and killing the medic in the melee. What remains
unclear is whether the medic was targeted as an expatriate
and deliberately killed to send a message, or was
accidentally shot by random fire.


2. (C) The motive behind the attack, which took place in an
onshore exploration block owned by Angola oil parastatal
Sonangol, also remains unclear. Sonangol security officials
informed the Brazilian Embassy that the incident appears to
be a criminal act of banditry rather than a political act by
renegade FLEC (Cabinda Liberation Front) elements. There are
reports that local residents have recently expressed
frustration with the onshore exploration project, as it has
yet to deliver on its promise to generate local employment
opportunities. The attackers were reportedly young, male,
and dressed in civilian attire. The FLEC has not claimed
responsibility for the attack. NOTE: While the FLEC was
technically disbanded by the August 2006 signing of a
Memorandum of Peace and Understanding between the FLEC and
GRA, rumors of sporadic FLEC activity in the province have
persisted. END NOTE


3. (SBU) According to the Brazilian Embassy, the medic worked
for Geotechnics, a Brazilian oil company sub-contracted by
Houston-based Grant Geophysical to perform seismic testing.
Grant Geophysical is currently conducting onshore exploration
in the Cabinda North block in a joint venture with Sonangol.
Other industry sources report that Grant and Sonangol have
suspended operations in the block while the incident is
investigated and security situation reviewed.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: The attack, the first oil industry expat
killing since the MOU was signed, highlights the continuing
hazards in doing onshore business in Cabinda. The Embassy
will seek further clarification of whether the killing was
the result of banditry or was politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the Embassy will review this incident with
American companies active in the province in the upcoming
Overseas Security Advisory Council meeting and urge them to
review their safety procedures. END COMMENT
MOZENA