Following the independence of South Sudan, Insight on Conflict will be producing a weekly round-up of the news. To subscribe to receive the updates via email, please contact joel@insightonconflict.org or complete the form below.
News roundup
- The dispute between Sudan and South Sudan oil transit fees escalated last week. All South Sudanese oil exports flow north through Sudan, but the two countries have yet to reach an agreement on what the South should pay Sudan. Last week South Sudan accused Sudan of blockading South Sudanese oil exports. Sudan has denied this, but has said it has started confiscating some South Sudanese oil exports to pay for what it claims are unpaid fees.
- Fighting continued last week between two ethnic groups, the Lou Nuer and Murle, in Jonglei, South Sudan. In one incident the government said 57 people - mostly women and children - were killed in a revenge attack by the Murle. The USA has sent 5 military officers to join the UN mission in Juba.
- The UN says that the Sudanese government is restricting the movements of peacekeepers in Darfur. Two new states have been created in Darfur - Eastern Darfur and Central Darfur.
News in detail
South Sudan
BBC: South Sudan clashes: Murles exact revenge in Jonglei 13 Jan: Some 57 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in a revenge attack in South Sudan, officials say. Read more
AFP: Renewed South Sudan clashes kill at least 24 9 Jan: Renewed tribal clashes in South Sudan's troubled Jonglei state have killed at least 24 people, days after a cattle vendetta rattled the stability of the world's newest state, officials said Monday. Read more
AFP: UN warns South Sudan of multiple crises 10 Jan: South Sudan faces challenges of "huge dimensions" as the world's newest nation struggles to support hundreds of thousands of people returning home or fleeing violence, the UN refugee chief said on Tuesday. Read more
Washington Post: Obama sending 5 US military officers to South Sudan amid outbreaks of ethnic violence 10 Jan: President Barack Obama is sending five American military officers to South Sudan amid recent outbreaks of violence in the newly independent African nation. Read more
AFP: 13 dead in tribal revenge attacks in South Sudan - government 15 Jan: Almost one hundred people were killed in South Sudan's troubled Jonglei state last week, with the government on Sunday reporting 13 more deaths as a cattle vendetta between two tribes grips the new nation. Read more
North-South relations
Reuters: South Sudan says Sudan blocking its oil exports 11 Jan: South Sudan has accused the Sudanese government of blocking 3.4 million barrels of its crude oil exports, diverting over half a million barrels to its refineries and building a pipeline to keep diverting its oil. Read more
Reuters: Sudan says taking some South Sudan oil and won't close pipe 15 Jan: Sudan said on Sunday it has started confiscating some oil exports from South Sudan that it believes it is owed to meet unpaid transit fees, but will not shut down a pipeline carrying the southern state's oil. Read more
AFP: Bids open on Sudan oil blocks amid South Sudan row 15 Jan: International oil companies gathered on Sunday to study six exploration blocks that Sudan opened for bidding ahead of talks aimed at resolving a long-running oil fee dispute with South Sudan. Read more
Darfur
AFP: UN says Sudan government blocking Darfur patrols 12 Jan: The United Nations said on Wednesday that the Sudanese government is "severely" restricting movements by peacekeepers in Darfur, where fresh clashes have broken out and peace talks are deadlocked. Read more
Sudan Tribune: Bashir establishes two states in Darfur and reshuffles governors 10 Jan: Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on Tuesday issued three decrees creating two new states and appointing new governors in the country’s western region of Darfur. Read more
Sudan
AFP: Independent Sudan paper to shut down 13 Jan: Sudanese authorities have ordered an independent daily newspaper to suspend publication, its editor said on Friday, in the latest government action against the press and activists. Read more
