Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sudan urges China to exert pressure on South Sudan to reach oil deal - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan

January 28, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) –The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir met today with the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin and briefed him on the ongoing negotiations with the south regarding the oil dispute.

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Jia Qinglin, chairman and party secretary of the National Committee of the People’s Political Consultative Committee (Reuters)

Sudan’s foreign minister Ali Karti said the meeting was made at the request of Khartoum particularly since Beijing expressed concern in the past on the recent developments following South Sudan’s decision to stop oil production.

Karti referred to previous discussions that were conducted with the Chinese Foreign Minister on the need to find a solution.

Sudan’s top diplomat said that Bashir told Qinglin about Juba’s “stubbornness” and its rejection of all solutions presented by mediators forcing the Sudanese government to take its share of oil without the south’s permission to satisfy financial arrears.

From 2005 until July 2011 South Sudan’s oil was split almost by half between north and south. Like many other post-independence issues, negotiations between the former foes have not yielded any major breakthroughs on oil, borders, national debt, assets and the disputed territory of Abyei.

In late last year Sudan decided to confiscate part of South Sudan’s oil claiming the latter owes around $1 billion in unpaid fees. Juba denies this saying it has paid the fees dismissing Khartoum’s offer of a $32 fee per barrel, arguing that it should pay a lower rate in line with international norms.

Talks between Bashir and South Sudan president Thabo Mbeki mediated in Addis Ababa this week by Ethiopian Prime minister Meles Zenawi and chairman of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki appeared to have not succeeded in breaking the deadlock.

The Sudanese leader told the Chinese official that his government allowed the south to export its oil through the north without any fees for five months since it seceded in July 2011.

He called on China to pressure South Sudan and explained to Qinglin that there is danger surrounding Beijing’s investments in the country as a result of Juba’s move requiring action to protect its interests.

The state-run China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has pumped billions of dollars into developing oilfields in Sudan, 80 percent of which lie in the south.

China depends on South Sudan, a new country long suspicious of Beijing’s ties with Khartoum, for nearly five percent of its oil imports.

Karti said that Bashir received a commitment from Beijing to support Sudan’s position and maintain its investment portfolio. He added that China recognizes it was South Sudan which sought to destroy the oil facilities during the civil war years due to its unwillingness to have China dominate investments in Africa.

The foreign minister said that what is happening is an attempt by South Sudan to make China leave.

Xinhua news agency quoted Qinglin as stressing the strength of China-Sudan relations.

"China and Sudan boast a traditional friendship and they have always trusted and understood each other despite changing international landscape and situations of both countries," said Qinglin.

"China appreciates Sudan’s consistent support for China on issues of China’s core interests and major concerns, and will in turn support its efforts of maintaining national stability and developing economy," he added.

"Chinese enterprises are welcomed to invest in Sudan, and they will be protected by concrete measures," Qinglin said.

South Sudan shuts down more wells as crisis deal flops Africa Review -

Omar al Bashir, President of Sudan attends talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on January 27, 2012 hosted by an East African peace bloc to resolve an oil dispute with former foe South Sudan that is threatening fresh violence. A deal is yet to be struck. PHOTO | AFP |
By MACHEL AMOS in PalaugPosted Saturday, January 28 2012 at 14:29
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South Sudan oil operators closed more 242 oil wells Friday as the government announced it has unearthed further oil theft of more than 40,000 barrels per day.

This came as President Salva Kiir failed to agree a deal with Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir to unlock the impasse that has led to the on going shutdown.

The wells were closed in Palaug oil fields in the Upper Nile state which accounts for more than 60 per cent of the country's crude oil output.

Paluag has 600 oil wells and the 242 already shut down have halved the daily output of 250,000 barrels per day, officials said.

The field is held by Petrodar Oil Company, the biggest oil operator in the country.

However, Petroleum and Mining minister Stephen Dhieu Dau said his technicians had discovered that an additional 40,000 barrels were being produced per day on top of 230,000 daily barrels the company reported.

"After the resolution of shutdown, the company here tried to increase the production against what we are actually telling them to reduce to the minimum,” Mr Dhieu said, accusing former civil war Sudan of having a hand.

In the country’s Unity state, which officials now say accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the daily output, all the oil wells have been successfully closed down.

The Council of Ministers, in a sitting chaired by President Salva Kiir, resolved a week ago to shut down the oil pipeline to avoid continuous oil seizure by Sudan along the export route to Port Sudan.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Rival Sudanese leaders fail to resolve oil row - Yahoo!7

Updated January 28, 2012, 5:12 am

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir failed to resolve a dispute over oil after day-long negotiations hosted by an African peace bloc Friday in Ethiopia.

The two leaders met amid heightened tensions after the South accused Khartoum of stealing $815 million worth of crude oil. Sudan admits to taking oil from the South, but says it was to compensate for export fees and use of its refineries.

"There are some sticking points... in general terms I believe there is quite a lot of progress but not enough for us to be able to clinch a deal now," said Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Meles is the current chair of the regional bloc, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development. Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Somali leader Sharif Sheik Ahmed and Djibouti's Ismael Omar Guelleh also attended the talks.

Juba this week began to halt oil production after it ordered a complete shutdown owing to the dispute with Khartoum, a former civil war foe. Over half the wells are now shut down, the South says.

The leaders proposed a deal to reverse unilateral decisions by the two countries and to work on signing a comprehensive agreement, Meles said, adding that the talks would continue at an African Union summit starting Sunday.

Bashir and Kiir left the meeting separately and refused to comment.

South Sudan split from Sudan in July, taking with it three quarters of the country's oil, which makes up more than 90 percent of the South's revenue.

Landlocked South Sudan signed an agreement with Kenya Tuesday to build an oil pipeline to a Kenyan port, potentially freeing it its dependence of exporting oil through Sudan.

However, industry experts have said that building a pipeline could take more than three years and cost as much as $4 billion -- a staggering cost for the South, where oil production is already close to peaking.

South Sudan has also approached Ethiopia to build a pipeline connecting to the Red Sea state of Djibouti.

Earlier this month, South Sudan signed its first oil deals with foreign nations since it won independence last July, inking agreements with Chinese, Indian and Malaysian firms.

The deals, which replace deals signed with Khartoum under a unified Sudan, cover oil production in the two key petroleum states of Unity and Upper Nile.

Khartoum also opened bids to international companies days after the South penned its deals.

After South Sudan gained its independence in July, Sudan, which also depends on oil, was scrambling for ways to bolster its finances.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Sudan Tribune: WikiLeaks Cables on Sudan


Wikileaks: Sudanese Guantanamo detainee details released: http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudanese-Guantanamo-detainee,38723

Sudan’s NCP dismisses Wikileaks cables: http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-s-NCP-dismisses-Wikileaks,40147

Wikileaks: US behind Ethiopia invasion in Somalia: http://www.sudantribune.com/US-behind-Ethiopia-invasion-in,37189

Wikileaks: Discontent with SPLM’s Kiir revealed: http://www.sudantribune.com/Wikileaks-Kiir-Garang-SPLM,40046

Wikileaks: Sudan President stashed billions in secret bank accounts, says ICC prosecutor: http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-President-stashed-billions,37328

Wikileaks: Sudan designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation: http://www.sudantribune.com/Wikileaks-Sudan-designates,40091

Wikileaks: Egypt lobbied for south Sudan referendum to be delayed: http://www.sudantribune.com/Egypt-lobbied-for-south-Sudan,37159

Wikileaks/US embassy cables: China plays a strong hand on Sudan: http://www.sudantribune.com/US-embassy-cables-China-plays-a,37327

Wikileaks: Egypt determined to thwart Qatar initiatives including Darfur: http://www.sudantribune.com/Wikileaks-Egypt-determined-to,39222

Wikileaks/US embassy cables: Clinton asks Sudan to block Iranian arms supplies to Hamas: http://www.sudantribune.com/US-embassy-cables-Clinton-asks,37324

...

Read more -
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?page=recherche&lang=en&recherche=wikileaks

Saturday, January 21, 2012

South Sudan halts oil production in row with Khartoum

Oil production has been halted in South Sudan amid a dispute over sharing revenues with the Khartoum government.

South Sudan gained independence in July 2011 but the two states have not been able to agree on how to divide their oil wealth.

Most of the oil is produced in the south but is exported from Port Sudan in the north.

Sudan has accused the south of not paying transport fees and said it is taking the revenues in lieu of payment.

The two sides are currently holding talks in Ethiopia to try and reach a deal.

China, a major buyer of oil from both countries, has urged them to resolve their differences.

But South Sudan's Information Minister Marial Barnaba Benjamin told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that the cabinet had decided to turn off the taps.

"We are not benefiting from the oil," he said, accusing Khartoum of stealing it.

South Sudan has to export oil via the north because it has no port or refineries of its own.

Sudan: A country divided
Map showing position of oilfileds in Sudan, source: Drilling info international

Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue. The pipelines run north but the two sides have still not agreed how to share the oil wealth in the future.

South Sudan halts oil production in row with Khartoum

Oil production has been halted in South Sudan amid a dispute over sharing revenues with the Khartoum government.

South Sudan gained independence in July 2011 but the two states have not been able to agree on how to divide their oil wealth.

Most of the oil is produced in the south but is exported from Port Sudan in the north.

Sudan has accused the south of not paying transport fees and said it is taking the revenues in lieu of payment.

The two sides are currently holding talks in Ethiopia to try and reach a deal.

China, a major buyer of oil from both countries, has urged them to resolve their differences.

But South Sudan's Information Minister Marial Barnaba Benjamin told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that the cabinet had decided to turn off the taps.

"We are not benefiting from the oil," he said, accusing Khartoum of stealing it.

South Sudan has to export oil via the north because it has no port or refineries of its own.

Sudan: A country divided
Map showing position of oilfileds in Sudan, source: Drilling info international

Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue. The pipelines run north but the two sides have still not agreed how to share the oil wealth in the future.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Rice: Sudan is deliberately preventing aid to civilians affected by crisis and near-famine | Turtle Bay

Posted By Colum Lynch Share

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, warned the U.N. Security Council that Sudan's restive South Kordofan region faces the prospects of famine if Khartoum does not allow international aid workers into the region to provide relief to more than 500,000 needy civilians.

"It is the United States' firm belief that, if the government of Sudan does not allow immediate meaningful humanitarian access to the conflict zones in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile so life saving humanitarian assistance can be provided to civilians in need, we will likely see famine conditions in parts of Sudan," Rice wrote in a letter to the president of the U.N. Security Council.

The U.S. warning comes nearly two weeks after the U.N.'s chief relief coordinator, Valerie Amos, traveled to Sudan to press the government to allow U.N. aid workers into Southern Kordofan to assess the extent of humanitarian suffering there. It comes on the eve of a briefing today by Amos on the crisis to the Security Council.

During her visit, Amos said that Sudanese refugees entering Ethiopia have reported increasing levels of food shortages and "rising levels of malnutrition" in parts of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. She said that reports of a humanitarian crisis in territory controlled by the anti-government Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (North) were "particularly alarming."

Amos said that she had reached agreement with Khartoum to share information about the plight of civilians in the conflict zones, and that they would continue to discuss ways to reach civilians affected by the crisis.

The Sudanese armed forces launched a counterinsurgency campaign against the SPLM forces in June, triggering an outbreak of fighting that has forced 300,000 people from their homes, according to U.N. figures. The United Nations, which previously maintained a presence in the region, was asked to leave Sudan after South Sudan seceded from Sudan.

Reports of extreme hardship have filtered out from church groups based in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile and from Sudanese refugees who have made it across the border into neighboring Ethiopia or South Sudan.

But Sudan has restricted U.N. aid agencies from gaining access to the region, citing security concerns. "We are in no position to verify the actual needs on the ground or the fulfillment of those needs as we are simply not there," Peter de Clercq, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, said in a recent statement.

Susan Rice wrote that the two Sudanese states will be placed on a Phase 4 Emergency level by March without a major inflow of humanitarian assistance. A Phase 4 Emergency -- a designation that has only been applied to Somalia and Ethiopia -- is one step short of a full-fledged famine.

"It is clear that the Government of Sudan has instituted a deliberate policy to prevent humanitarian agencies from reaching vulnerable civilians impacted by the conflict," Rice wrote. "The conflicts disruption of trade and livelihoods, large scale displacement of people, and severe restrictions on the operations of aid agencies has pushed the people of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile to the brink of a major humanitarian crisis."