South Sudan has not exported oil through Sudan for six months

July 21, 2024 (Juba) – South Sudan said on Sunday that it has not exported oil through Sudan for six months as its economic conditions deteriorate due to the ongoing war.

“As far as we know, we have stopped exporting oil for six months, actually seven months, due to the conflict in Sudan, which has greatly affected our efforts to generate revenue,” said a senior official at South Sudan’s Ministry of Presidential Affairs. Sudan Tribune.

1^{English Stone} Deputy Finance Minister Malul Tap also revealed that the country has not exported oil through Sudan for six months, but expressed hope that exports would resume soon.

This was his speech at the reception for the new Minister of Finance on July 15, 2024.

“I would say this is probably good news, but cautious optimism. I have to look at it from Sudan’s perspective, maybe in a month, maybe we will be able to resume oil exports, but until then, we will continue to struggle,” Tap said.

The official said it was time for the country and its leadership to move forward and diversify its economy away from its reliance on oil revenues sold to international markets through Sudan, which is currently embroiled in a fierce war.

“I think it is time for our people to turn to and develop other sectors so that if the oil supply is disrupted or affected by external factors, we can rely on other sectors, more importantly agriculture and mining, but most importantly, we should turn our main focus to the most sustainable income for our country, which is non-oil income. We have been dependent on one commodity, which is oil. As we speak today, we have not exported oil for six months, especially Dar Blend, which used to account for our budget”, he stressed.

South Sudan’s oil and gas exports mainly rely on neighboring Sudan. In mid-April 2023, a conflict broke out in Sudan. Some oil pipelines were broken and have not been repaired, resulting in the closure of some pumping stations and interruption of oil transportation. The area where the pipeline broke is located in the conflict area. Technicians need protection to carry out repairs and maintenance.

South Sudan and the oil companies have been engaged in dialogue with the Sudanese parties to the conflict, but it appears that obstacles have not yet been fully resolved to resume dialogue.

The military-led Sudanese Sovereign Council controls the port, while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces operate at the site of the pumping facility.

Oil revenues account for more than 90 percent of South Sudan’s annual budget.

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