South Sudan - oil companies being warned to leave the country

Posted: 08/05/2014

RPS has learned that South Sudanese rebels have announced they have seized the capital of Unity state, Bentiu, and warned oil companies to depart within a week.

Oil-producing Unity state has been a focal point of violence in South Sudan since mid-December, when a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar reached a breaking point.

Rebel spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said in a statement, "The recapturing of Bentiu marks the first phase of liberation of oil fields from [the] anti-democratic and genocidal forces of Kiir."

South Sudan's rebel spokesman Lul Ruai Koang

He demanded that all oil companies operating in government-held regions shut their operations and evacuate their staff within a week. He said, "Failure to comply with this request, the oil companies risk forced oil shutdown and the safety of their staff."

Phillip Aguer, South Sudan's army spokesman, said there was fighting in Unity state but he did not have a full report on what had occurred. "There has been serious fighting in Unity today, so far the SPLA [government] forces are still on the ground but we are still waiting on a full report to tell us exactly what has happened."

The ongoing conflict has significantly impacted oil production, which provides a significant portion of the government's revenue.

South Sudan army spokesman Phillip Aguer

Currently, Upper Nile state is the only province producing oil in South Sudan since the shutdown in Unity state. Last month, production in Upper Nile state held steady at approximately 160,000 bpd.

The US, EU, UK, and Norway have threatened measures against South Sudan's warring factions. In March, President Barack Obama green lighted possible targeted sanctions against those committing human rights abuses or undermining democracy and disrupting the peace process.

Source: Reuters

Photos with thanks to saidby red.com and theredphoenixapl.org

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