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Sudan's al-Bashir says Juba committing "suicide" with oil shut down
Feb 13, 2012, 10:05 GMT
Johannesburg - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has said South Sudan is committing 'suicide' by halting its oil production, in his latest swipe at Juba, local media reported on Monday.
Last month, South Sudan decided to cease oil exports, after Khartoum seized shipments saying it was owed money by Juba for transport fees.
Landlocked South Sudan must export its oil through pipelines in Sudan, though the two countries cannot agree on a price sharing deal.
Over the weekend, the two sides made some progress in talks facilitated by the African Union in Ethiopia, and signed a non-aggression pact. Talks over splitting the oil revenue, on which both countries' coffers are heavily reliant, are ongoing.
'We have a right owed to us. Either they (South Sudan) pay it or we take it, or they close this pipeline and wherever they want to take it, (let them) take it,' al-Bashir told supporters, according to the Sudan Tribune newspaper.
Independence for South Sudan last year meant a loss of around two-thirds of overall oil reserves for Khartoum.
Al-Bashir said his government would focus on other natural resources, including newly discovered gold mines.
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