South Sudan suspends oil export via Sudan amid ongoing political situation crisis

JUBA – South Sudan’s Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth says the country has temporarily suspended the export of its oil through Port Sudan due to the ongoing political situation in Sudan, Radio Tamazuj reports.

Makuei said oil production will continue but export will only resume once the political situation in Sudan stabilizes.

“Of course the current developments in Khartoum have nothing to do with the flow of our oil though it is affecting it, for the time being, definitely it will continue to flow,” Makuei said. “That is an internal problem and it has nothing to do with the flow of our oil.”

South Sudan, mostly oil-dependent with over 95% of its revenue coming from oil exports, exports crude oil through Sudan to the international market. Both Sudan and South Sudan have stopped exporting their oil to the world market due to the current insurgence.

The military sovereign council leaders took over leadership from the civilian leader Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok through a military coup early Monday morning dissolving the transitional government. The international community has condemned the coup and called on the military leaders to respect the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement.

Biden’s administration has announced the suspension of $700 million in support of the humanitarian situation in Sudan. The US also says it is now reviewing bilateral relations with Sudan.