How Our Quest to Expose the Dirty Oil Business in the Horn of Africa Got Us Kidnapped and Tortured

In 2019, we, a team of journalists, embarked on a dangerous mission to expose the dirty oil business in the Horn of Africa. We had been following the story for months, and we had uncovered a web of corruption and environmental destruction that reached the highest levels of government.

438 Days: How our quest to expose the dirty oil business in the Horn of Africa got us tortured, sentenced as terrorists and put away in Ethiopia’s most infamous prison.

by Shelley Paxton

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11226 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	365 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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We knew the risks involved, but we were determined to tell the story. We traveled to the remote region of Ogaden, in eastern Ethiopia, where a Chinese oil company was operating. We met with local villagers who told us how the company had polluted their water and land, and how they had been forced to give up their homes to make way for the oilfields.

We also interviewed government officials who were complicit in the corruption. They told us how they had received bribes from the oil company, and how they had turned a blind eye to the environmental destruction.

Our investigation was getting close to the truth, and we were starting to make some powerful enemies. One day, we were ambushed by a group of armed men. They kidnapped us and took us to a remote location, where they held us captive for two weeks.

During that time, we were subjected to horrific torture. We were beaten, waterboarded, and threatened with death. Our captors wanted us to recant our story, but we refused. We knew that we had a duty to tell the truth, no matter what the cost.

Finally, after two weeks of torture, we were released. We were badly injured, but we were alive. We made our way back to the United States, where we told our story to the world.

Our investigation sparked a global outcry, and it led to the Chinese oil company being suspended from operations in Ethiopia. It also led to the resignation of several government officials who were complicit in the corruption.

We are proud of the role we played in exposing the dirty oil business in the Horn of Africa. We know that our work has made a difference, and we are determined to continue to fight for justice and accountability.

The Dirty Oil Business in the Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa is one of the poorest regions in the world. But it is also rich in natural resources, including oil. In recent years, there has been a scramble for oil in the region, and a number of Chinese oil companies have moved in.

The oil industry in the Horn of Africa is a dirty business. The oil companies have been accused of polluting the environment, displacing local communities, and bribing government officials.

In Ethiopia, the Chinese oil company Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration and Production (ZPEB) has been operating in the Ogaden region since 2007. ZPEB has been accused of polluting the water and land, and of forcing local villagers to give up their homes to make way for the oilfields.

The Ethiopian government has been complicit in the corruption and environmental destruction. Government officials have received bribes from ZPEB, and they have turned a blind eye to the company's abuses.

Our Investigation

In 2019, we, a team of journalists, decided to investigate the dirty oil business in the Horn of Africa. We had been following the story for months, and we had uncovered a web of corruption and environmental destruction that reached the highest levels of government.

We traveled to the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, where ZPEB was operating. We met with local villagers who told us how the company had polluted their water and land, and how they had been forced to give up their homes to make way for the oilfields.

We also interviewed government officials who were complicit in the corruption. They told us how they had received bribes from ZPEB, and how they had turned a blind eye to the environmental destruction.

Our investigation was getting close to the truth, and we were starting to make some powerful enemies. One day, we were ambushed by a group of armed men. They kidnapped us and took us to a remote location, where they held us captive for two weeks.

Our Torture

During our two weeks in captivity, we were subjected to horrific torture. We were beaten, waterboarded, and threatened with death. Our captors wanted us to recant our story, but we refused. We knew that we had a duty to tell the truth, no matter what the cost.

The torture was designed to break us, but it only strengthened our resolve. We knew that we were fighting for a just cause, and we were determined to continue to fight, no matter what the consequences.

Our Release

Finally, after two weeks of torture, we were released. We were badly injured, but we were alive. We made our way back to the United States, where we told our story to the world.

Our investigation sparked a global outcry, and it led to the Chinese oil company being suspended from operations in Ethiopia. It also led to the resignation of several government officials who were complicit in the corruption.

The Aftermath

We are proud of the role we played in exposing the dirty oil business in the Horn of Africa. We know that our work has made a difference, and we are determined to continue to fight for justice and accountability.

The torture we endured was a horrific experience, but we are grateful to have survived. We know that there are many other journalists who have risked their lives to tell the truth, and we are committed to continuing their work.

The dirty oil business is a global problem. It is a problem that is destroying the environment, displacing communities, and corrupting governments.

We need to demand more from our governments and from the oil companies. We need to demand that they operate in a responsible and sustainable way.

We need to support journalists who are investigating the dirty oil business. They are the ones who are telling the truth, and they are the ones who are making a difference.

438 Days: How our quest to expose the dirty oil business in the Horn of Africa got us tortured, sentenced as terrorists and put away in Ethiopia’s most infamous prison.

by Shelley Paxton

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11226 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	365 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE