Sudan parties talks over control of energy ministry

Aug 24, 2005 (Khartoum) — Sudan’s ruling party and former southern rebels, in talks to form a new government, are vying for control of the oil producer’s energy ministry, an official taking part in the talks told Reuters on Wednesday.

Officials from the former rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), have said they expect to finalise the formation of a new government by the end of August or the beginning of September.

“It’s our position to take the oil ministry. … The National Congress Party is interested in holding this ministry,” said the SPLM official, who is taking part in the talks between the two sides.

The official said the issue was important to the SPLM because most of Sudan’s oil reserves found so far are in the southern areas controlled by the former rebels.

“We want to make sure the south gets its share and oversees exploration in the future,” the official added.

Sudan’s foreign minister has previously said the country’s oil production was expected to top 500,000 barrels per day by the end of August.

The civil war between the SPLM and the Islamist government lasted more than two decades. The discovery of oil complicated the conflict which killed around 2 million, mainly through disease and hunger.

The formation of the new government, which became possible after a January peace deal, was scheduled to be completed by Aug. 9 but the death of the SPLM’s leader John Garang in a helicopter crash on July 30 delayed the process.

Reuters News/ST