Resumption of South Sudan's Crude Oil Exports Has Been Blocked Once Again

摘要

Relations between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan remain as dreadful as ever and their impact on the oil sector as disastrous as ever. Sudanese President Omar el-Bechir directed on 8 June that the transit of crude oil from South Sudan across Sudan should be halted barely two months after it had resumed. South Sudan had stopped exporting oil in early 2012 since it did not agree to what it regarded as the exorbitant transit fees being demanded by its northern neighbor, which were paid in kind. Recently, Mr. el-Bechir declared that "if they [the South Sudan leadership] did not halt their support for rebel movements, they can drink their oil." In this warm ambiance Sudan decided to question all the nine cooperation agreements concluded between the two countries.