S.Sudan: Sudan bombing country to scare investors - WCBD

NAIROBI, Kenya --

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) A South Sudan official said Monday that Sudan is bombing oil-rich regions of South Sudan in order to scare away American and Chinese investors.

South Sudan government spokesman Barnaba Marial Benjamin said Sudan is bombarding disputed areas in South Sudan despite a Feb. 10 nonaggression and cooperation pact signed by both countries in African Union-led negotiations in Ethiopia.

"As we speak today they are continuing bombing villages," Benjamin said.

Benjamin linked the bombings in the Upper Nile, Unity and Western Bahr Al Ghazal states to South Sudan's shutting down of its oil sector earlier this year. Landlocked South Sudan shut down oil production in January saying that its northern neighbor had stolen its oil which was meant to be exported through Sudan.

Benjamin said since South Sudan stopped production, Sudan increased aerial bombardment of the disputed areas and organized ground attacks in late March which were repulsed by the South Sudanese troops.

Sudan and South Sudan have previously blamed each other for starting the conflict in the disputed regions.

Benjamin accused Sudan of trying scare away investors, including American and Chinese companies, in the oil-rich regions where there are plans to build oil refineries which he said will be operational in six to seven months. The oil refineries will help South Sudan process some oil to help meet local demand for the commodity, he said.

Echoing the words of South Sudan's president, Benjamin said South Sudan remains committed to peace and would fight back only to defend its territorial integrity.

"We will not be dragged into a senseless war," he said.

Benjamin also complained that the African Union is not doing a satisfactory job mediating talks with Sudan. South Sudan is disappointed by an AU report to the U.N. Security Council that Benjamin said portrayed his country as the aggressor in hostilities between the two countries. He suggested that a regional bloc known as IGAD take over.

The seven-nation IGAD the Inter Governmental Authority for Development negotiated the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended a decades-long civil war between Sudan and South Sudan. That deal led to South Sudan's secession from Sudan last year.

Among the unresolved issues from the split is the demarcation of the border and an agreement to share oil revenue.

Benjamin said South Sudan shutdown its oil production because Sudan had stolen million barrels of oil and increased oil transit fee through its pipeline to $36 a barrel. Benjamin said it was better that South Sudan's oil stay in the ground.

Benjamin said that South Sudan will construct two pipelines one to Kenya and one across Ethiopia into Djibouti. Benjamin said the South Sudan is also seeking international loans in order to fill in the budget deficit caused by the shutdown in oil production.

He said the despite the bombings South Sudan still would welcome Sudan President Omar al-Bashir to meet with South Sudan President Salva Kiir. A meeting scheduled between the two for Tuesday was canceled by Sudan.