S. Sudan ministers, airline officials feud at Juba airport

February 12, 2012 (JUBA) – A group of Sudanese officials allegedly refused to travel on a flight headed to Ethiopia last Friday because they were offered economy class seats.

The delegation flying to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Adaba for the next rounds of post-session talks with Khartoum included Pagan Amum, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Secretary General; Angelina Teny, wife of vice president, Riek Machar as well as ministers Michael Makuei, Paul Mayom, John Luk Jok and Gabriel Changson Chang.

An anonymous source at Juba airport told Sudan Tribune that the delegation left the plane only after a heated argument with the airline employees.

A spokesperson for Ethiopian Airlines denied that the incident occurred. Members of the delegation reportedly involved in the incident were unavailable for comment.

The anger by the officials will likely appear unseemly particularly given that South Sudan is set to introduce tough austerity measures in the wake of the country’s oil crisis. Oil production has been halted as a result of an ongoing row with Khartoum over the payment of transit fees. As South Sudan relies upon oil for 98 percent of its revenues it is currently in an economically precarious position.

The only pipeline currently available to South Sudan passes across the international border into its northern neighbour. According to Juba, Khartoum has confiscated oil with a market value of US$350 million due to their refusal to pay “exorbitant” transit fees of US$32 per barrel.

(ST)