South Sudan’s Information Minister says oil export through the port of Sudan is set to resume after a week of suspension following political upheaval in Sudan.

The government announced last week that oil exports had been suspended but oil production in the country would continue.

On Monday 25th October 2021, the Sudanese military sovereign council leaders staged a coup, ousted the civilian leader Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, and dissolved the transitional government. The move has led to protests and widespread condemnation.   

Micheal Makuei Lueth speaking after the Council of Ministers meeting in Juba last Friday said the government was negotiating with Sudan to resume the exportation of oil.

“The oil export is not suspended, it is one of the exceptions. The people of Eastern Sudan have been saying they are making exceptions and out of these exceptions is that oil will be exported and they will allow some trucks to carry food and trucks to Khartoum. This is what they said and they have already started negotiation with the government,” Makuei said.  

Makuei, also the government mouthpiece, said there is a lack of clarity in the unfolding political crisis in Sudan, and South Sudan is cautious to intervene. 

“The fact that Sudan at present is in its crisis does not give us the right to intervene in the crisis in Sudan. There are two camps now in Khartoum, there is a camp that is supporting Al Burhan and there is a camp that is demanding that the civilian government must rule Sudan,” he said. “For us (the government of South Sudan) things are not yet clear and so we can not just intervene. We are still observing to see what is happening in Sudan and we only wish the people of Sudan to resolve their problem.”

After the coup, the Beja tribe in Eastern Sudan interrupted oil export through Port Sudan, stopping the exportation of both Sudan and South Sudan’s oil to the international market. 

South Sudan, mostly oil-dependent with over 95% of its revenue coming from oil exports, exports crude oil through Sudan to the international market.