AFRICA/SUDAN - Winds of war between Sudan and South Sudan

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) - "In Khartoum, the population follows through the media the war of words between the Government of Sudan and Southern Sudan. For the moment, the situation is calm, but it is unknown whether the words will be followed by facts" Church sources told Fides from the capital of Sudan, for security reasons have asked for anonymity.
South Sudan and Sudan have announced that they have deployed their troops along the border. The tension between the two States deepened after South Sudan decided to freeze its oil exports through the territory of Sudan, in retaliation for the confiscation on behalf of the authorities in Khartoum of a cargo of south Sudanese crude oil, seen as a form of compensation for unpaid customs duties (see Fides 16/01/2012).
South Sudan is also seeking alternative routes to export its oil in order to avoid the Sudanese territory. A Texas company has been responsible for a feasibility study for a pipeline which would result in Djibouti, while the project remains on the table to build another pipeline that passes through Lamu in Kenya, bordering Somalia. And just to protect this infrastructure, the Kenyan army, according to some observers, has invaded the south of Somalia, in hopes of creating conditions of stability on the border between the two Countries. The oil issue seems to be a common element to these two important areas of crisis in Africa, in addition to other factors which, however, should not be underestimated. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 09/02/2012)