AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Between South Sudan and Sudan the war is about oil

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - "It is war," said the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir after clashes broke out this morning in the border area disputed with Sudan. "First they bombed, then they attacked us" on the ground, said Kiir, quoted by the BBC. According to Juba, Sudan's military forces assisted by armed militias also attacked the areas of Jau, Pan Akuach and Teshwin within the territory of South Sudan.
"For 5-6 months the border area has been repeatedly bombed by Sudan causing many victims. They bombard especially oil wells, some of which are rendered inoperative. If one looks at the map, this area comes as a wedge into the Sudanese territory. Hence its strategic importance", a source of the Church tells Fides, which for security reasons asked to remain anonymous.
"Those who can bomb is Khartoum, because South Sudan has no combat aircraft, only helicopters", continues our source. "The army of Southern Sudan (SPLA) declared it entered the Sudanese territory. This is the first time since independence (July 2011). The SPLA entered Heglig where Sudan, which due to the independence of the South has lost 75% of oil reserves, and has one of the largest remaining oil fields. It is certainly a very serious episode, confirming that this is a war for oil " underlines the source.
"Because of the latent tension between the two States, South Sudan is experiencing a serious economic crisis since its independence. The prices have experienced a 200% rise. Sudan is experiencing an economic crisis even worse".
The Bishops of Southern Sudan have met in Juba in an extraordinary Assembly to discuss the situation, as Fides learns from sources of the Archdiocese of Juba. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/3/2012)