Somalia’s interim prime minister has sought to distance himself from a decision to grant oil exploration rights to CNOOC, indicating that the Chinese state oil giant may have become entangled in an internal power struggle within the interim government.

CNOOC and a smaller group, China International Oil and Gas, are planning to begin survey work in the Puntland province later this year – the latest example of China’s willingness to brave Africa’s most volatile regions in search of natural resources.