Operator Africa Oil said this week it had decided to temporarily delay the drilling program due to a recent upsurge in civil unrest.

If it were more organised, the "unrest" could be classified as civil war. On April 19-20 alone, 81 people were killed in the capital city of Mogadishu and 119 more were wounded, according to various reports.

Islamist insurgents are fighting the country's interim government and its Ethiopian allies.

Meanwhile, rampant piracy along the country's coast is causing logistical difficulties in shipping large amounts of heavy equipment and supplies to the drilling location.

The partners had planned to spud their first well in July.

Africa Oil said it would continue to monitor events and work closely with the Puntland Government to reinstate the drilling program as soon as practicable.

Meanwhile, seismic recording on the Dharoor Valley Block in the northern Puntland region is on schedule to start before mid May.

The mobilisation of a seismic crew to the block is proceeding smoothly, according to Africa Oil.

Puntland is the first region of the troubled country to emerge from the fighting, which was largely confined to southern Somalia. However, the piracy is concentrated off the Puntland coast.

Range took advantage of the independent stance of Puntland's regional government to secure mineral and oil exploration rights across the entire state, which occupies a region best known as the Horn of Africa.

Africa Oil, formerly known as Canmex Minerals, is earning an 80% stake in the concessions from Range.