South Sudan Oil Concerns

Sudan - a divided nation with a troubled past, is facing even greater challenges in the near future.

Since the January referendum in 2005, the Southern part of the country, South Sudan, has been seeking independence, which is expected to be proclaimed on July 9th.

The 1997 U.S-imposed oil embargo, which affects Sudan as a whole, is not doing the South’s cause any good. In fact, Southern Sudan’s newly formed government is pressuring the United States to lift sanctions on Sudan ahead of the southern region's independence.

Riek Machar, the designated vice president of Southern Sudan, told reporters of the importance of oil in the country’s economy.

Riek Macher: "We rely on southern Sudan on oil revenues, and according to the American sanctions on the whole of Sudan, oil is a sanctioned commodity. We lobbied that at this time it is necessary that the sanctions on the whole of Sudan need to be reviewed. And actually, preferably, lifted. And if not all, the oil itself should be lifted from the sanctions. We have no other way to export the oil from southern Sudan. It is only through the facilities in the north, and therefore if it is continued to be sanctioned by the American this is not going to affect the north alone, it is also going to affect the south. And worse, for we have no other outlet except through Khartoum."

Oil, being the lifeblood of both northern and southern Sudan, is especially relied upon by the underdeveloped south, where petroleum revenues make up 98 percent of the annual budget.


Speaker:
Riek Macher- Designated Vice President of Southern Sudan