Instability in South Sudan's Oil-Rich Unity State Threatens Economy

Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich Unity state located on South Sudan’s border with Sudan, appears to be like any other town. Driving through streets that are dotted with well-constructed tukuls (mud and thatch huts) and full of trucks; motorbikes; and animals, this oil-rich town seems to be relatively affluent in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Demining agencies say that while the streets of Bentiu are bustling, heavily mined roads have turned the town into a prison.

Since South Sudan’s secession from Sudan in January, aid agencies say that suspected rebel militia groups have become increasingly active and have laid many mines. Demining agencies say that rebels are laying mines quicker than they can find them, derailing expectations of South Sudan being declared mine free in 6 years.

Locals fear using the mined roads and say prices in the market for basic foodstuffs have quadrupled over the past few months as an increasing number of trade routes become inaccessible. The threat to transportation and commerce is compounded by border closures to the north as Sudan battles rebels formerly loyal to South Sudan in its southern states, which serve as a breadbasket for surrounding states and as a transit point for goods.

South Sudan¹s new government says that despite its hard fought independence and a 2005 peace accord with Sudan, President Omar al-Bashir is funding rebel groups in its northern states to try to recapture seventy-five percent of the oil fields located in Southern Sudan. As the two nations are set to meet for yet another round of talks to discussion the division of oil revenues, South Sudan is calling the renewed violence an oil war. Although South Sudan produces the crude oil, Sudan controls access to Port Sudan, the pipeline, and the refinery.

South Sudan says that Bashir's aim is to reclaim the fertile, resource rich lands by funding rebel groups to destabilize the new nation. Conversely, Sudan has accused South Sudan for supporting its rebels.

While Sudan and South Sudan trade accusations and threaten war, the people in the border states are suffering from what analysts are calling a proxy war. Rebel groups have attacked residential areas as well as civilians who venture outside their neighborhoods and use mined roads. At night, the streets of Bentiu empty long before the UN-mandated 9 pm curfew as residents hurry home to avoid crossing any rebels creeping out from bush hideouts when darkness falls.

Agencies think that rather than this being an attempt to destabilize oil production, which would harm both countries fragile economies, rebel militia groups are seeking to hamper humanitarian access to these states.

As long as President Bashir continues to block aid agencies from entering Sudan’s war-torn southern states where bombs have fallen for months and ground fighting is escalating, South Sudan¹s border states such as Unity will face greater insecurity and hunger.