Will Southern Sudan continue to consider oil as a curse?
By Yai Joseph de Dut
“We can’t stand aside from the problems of the communities in which we work. We can’t try to operate in splendid isolation and cut ourselves off from local realities behind a security fence” Sir John Browne (Group Chief Executive, BP Amoco) delivering the Elliott Lecture at St. Antony’s College, Oxford, 1998.
March 12, 2007 — The discovery of Black Gold (Petroleum) often brings hardship and misery to the societies where it is found across the globe. In regard to this perception Sudan has been embroiled in two phases of civil wars in 1955-1972 ended with the first peaceful settlement of conflict in modern Sudan between the North and South Sudan that was Addis Ababa Agreement 2nd March 1972. But the most ruinous one started in May 1983 and began with oil discovery in old Upper Nile Region – Bentiu. This war has been described by many experts as the most longest and tragic wars of African modern history. Nevertheless Southern Sudan is a place of extraordinary suffering and continuing human rights violations as a result of the oil operations in which multimillionaires companies involved and add more sufferings to the communities. For the past 21 years of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) struggle against the injustices, domination practiced by Khartoum’s based regimes, the people of marginalized areas and in particular the communities of southern Sudan has aligned its resources, children and strength with the demands of the times of liberation struggle, harnessing the collective spirit of togetherness in order to materialize the liberation in its different forms against all odds of the world exist in Khartoum.
The political settlement and transition to democratic era process and peace accord in January 2005 between National Congress Government (NCP) in Khartoum, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in the South brought with it a new focus on reconstruction, rebuilding, repositioning of displaced communities, development and hopefully transformation toward fair, transparency and more committed people-based system of natural resources exploitation and governance. As it is clearly stated in Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in which nominated governments at various levels mandate notably to notify and identify its dual focus to foster peace, security, development and to contribute to the improved quality of life of the people of Southern Sudan in particular and other areas of Sudanese soil.
The Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) is a product of CPA. Its responsibilities and contributions therefore straddle the needs of communities’ especially the vulnerable ones in areas of oil drillings in Unity State, Faloj in northern part of Upper Nile State and Jonglei State. To ensure that the CPA achieves the desired levels of participation in decision making, development of human capital and commitment to translate its content to demonstrate impact on national challenges and organizational effectiveness and efficiency. The CPA is ladder to prosperity as well as a tool of national equitable distribution of both wealth and power. At this Juncture I would like to salute the Icon and the architect of CPA late Dr John Garang de Mabior Commander in Chief of SPLA forces and the Leader of SPLM. May Almighty bless his soul?
It is worthy to give brief account on effort exhausted by ordinary people of the Greater Upper Nile region to suspend oil exploration in Bentiu and surrounding areas. In July 1998 an Open Letter was submitted to Canadian Petroleum Company known as Talisman. However the letter was delivered by 16 Chiefs from Unity State; Nuer and Dinka along side with seven international and local NGOs, South Sudan Students Union in Universities (SOSSU) they were calling on the Canadian Talisman to suspend participation in a proposed oil and pipeline project in Bentiu. The cardinal objective of the letter was to stop human rights violations and environmental concerns to be adequately addressed. Again to unpack those issues of human rights and environmental concerns in a sense that Talisman and NCP forces were involved in atrocities such as ethnic cleansings, slavery, clearance of forests/vegetations and displacement of Nuer and Dinka villages southward from oil fields.
On top of that the letter criticizes lack of accountability to affected populations, lack of transparency at NCP’s government in revenues allocations and their distribution, definition of linkage between local administrations (chiefs from Nuer and Dinka/Jieng) and Talisman as an explorer, and absence of the rule of law… precisely the values that you are championing in promoting livelihood of privileged communities where oil is found, also good governance and in fight against poverty and corruption.
But under present circumstances after (9 years) from that open letter presented to Talisman in 1998 and accompanied vigorous campaign against its investments worldwide to stop oil related atrocities in northern part of Upper Nile State and Unity in March 2000. I have simple question. What is the position of SPLM led Government of Southern Sudan GOSS to tackle NCP’s atrocities in Faloj and Bentiu oil fields as we speak ….what is taking place in Faloj-Jieng lands of Upper Nile and undisclosed situation in northern and central parts of Jonglei state is extremely horrendous! We are concerned that the projects of oil exploration will lead to escalating civil violence, humanitarian crisis and environmental degradation … we call on GOSS to use its legitimacy and resources to find alternatives to the presently risky NCP Oil and Pipeline projects. The Ministry of Mining & Industry of GOSS supposed to be well-placed in oil industry in the South. GOSS authority and available resources should be used for operations which have direct positive impacts on environmental treatment, healthcare facilities, education and other priorities of the people of Southern Sudan and communities situated next to oil fields..
In the context of civil society in the South before and after the CPA, key objections were the severe violations of human rights in southern Sudan around oil fields and the inadequacy of the environmental impact assessments and environmental management plans for the project submitted by oil companies working in Bentiu and Faloj area to Awad El Jaaz’s Ministry of Energy in Khartoum. The situation in Faloj area is worse and so demanding for urgent intervention before it is too late, because good intentions of NCP are not enough to save their lives. This action was the ground for the campaign led by former SPLM member of the National Parliament late Leila Ajout in which she devoted and invested her time and health advocating for incoming danger of pollution in northern Upper Nile and the price she paid was costly. Leila died as a result of sickness related to exhaustion of uncured disease she got when she was performing her duty as SPLM – MP representing Faloj constituency. She left behind three young kids. May Almighty rest her soul in peace!
Yet despite the good intentions, which represent an unusual income for the government of National Unity as well as GOSS from oil industry. The situations on the ground in Bentiu where Chinese National Company operates, Faloj in northern Upper Nile under Qatar/Emirates Company and White Nile Petroleum Company in Jonglei State remain dire.
The lives of the poor have not significantly improved since the arrival of the oil industry in those indicated areas as measured by the provision of basic services of healthcare, education, housing and compensation package for affected zones. Instead, the poorest people have suffered disproportionately from the increase in oil pollution related diseases, political violence, proliferation of illegal arms and environmental problems, as they are more dependent on their immediate physical surroundings than NCP riches or oil companies.
In mid-August 2006, there were signs that GOSS and the States authorities concerned might pull out from the new contractual obligations related to White Nile Petroleum, French-Total in Jonglei and Aweil area in northern Bahr Al Ghazal projects in order to avoid much damages and to reserve the production to post referendum era. Because people say cure is better than treatment. If we can’t handle oil hazards then we don’t need it now.
Government of Southern Sudan GOSS new operational and management in the field of oil exploration model illustrated in the creation of Nile Company as a national body in the South to oversee business of oil contracts on behalf of GOSS. But this body has been re-focused on the administrative core issues of the organization than technical advice to the Ministry of Mining & Industry as well as to the President Salva Kiir. To ensure that Nile Company remains true to its founding purpose by providing meaningful and considerable support to Government of Southern Sudan in addressing national imperatives, and by contributing to the development of the areas.
I absolutely do agree that the public does not have much knowledge about the mandates and functions of Nile Company apart from seeing Dr Bullen A. Bol traveling in and out of Juba. Where is Nile Company in regard to Faloj worsening situation? Who guides its activities? My expectation is that Nile Company compliance might be to ensure fulfillment of the requirements establishing standards for oil industry and maintaining relationships with government structures, industry, academia and the common public, in specific instances including regional and international affairs. To provide support in term of integrated planning and delivery systems such as construction facilities planning, design and operations for sustainable human settlements, development informatics, and economics financing. Also transport systems and traffic management, network asset management systems. These currently include Mining, vegetation improvement and forest assessment, underground water pollution and waste control, air quality and energy externality, environmental management service and area-based sustainable development. Where is Nile Company as National Guard on those issues of life or death?
It is a very difficult equation I guess, at this moment to pinpoint who has it to tell what accurate fingers of crude oil production in Southern Sudan right now? Regardless of how much the South is getting from oil revenue? I think, Madam Angelina Teny the State Minister for Federal Ministry of Mining and Energy has got answers but for the argument sake. In 1998 produced crude was 12,000 barrels per day and 136,000 barrels per day in September 1999. How much are we pumping out in March 2007, it must be noted that records might have shoot-up fourth times as in 1999. CPA talked about 50% share of revenue but who is responsible for environmental problems and pollution in Southern Sudan? GOSS must initiates the way forward. However, the latest information found from oil companies operating in the South there is no positive evidence to support these concerns indicated above are met. So will the people of Southern Sudan continue to consider the existence of oil as a curse not blessing for theirs prosper!
Therefore, I quote Sir John Browne words, 1997 to be a clear message to all oil explorers working in Southern Sudan that: companies are functions of the societies in which they operate. The challenge, the new goal for the new century, must be not only to supply the energy the world needs, but also to demonstrate that we can do so in ways which are acceptable, and enhance the life of the community as a whole.
* The author, who is a SPLM member based in Southern Sudan, played an important role in the initiation of the SPLM Northern sector and in contacts with the Darfur rebel groups. He can be reached at [email protected]