South Sudanese troops have recaptured a key town in one of the
country’s oil-rich states from rebels, according to a report, as the
major African crude producer teeters on the brink of civil war.
Government forces were separated from Bentiu, the capital of oil-rich
Unity state, only by a bridge, and the army told all civilians to
leave, according to the BBC.
The UK broadcaster reported later on Friday that the troops had taken
back control of the town after a single tank that had been defending
the bridge was overcome.
Reuters also reported that Bentiu had fallen, quoting army
spokesperson Philip Aguer as saying: “It happened this afternoon
(Friday) at 2:30 pm. When you control Bentiu you, control all the
oilfields in Unity state.”
Troops are also said to be targeting Bor, the capital of Jonglei
state, which like Bentiu is currently under the control of rebel forces
nominally loyal to former vice president Riek Machar.
Fighting broke out in South Sudan’s capital Juba in mid-December
after President Salva Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup – something
the latter has denied.
Feuding quickly spread to other states, forcing the world’s newest nation to shut in about one fifth of its production.
The Juba administration is now looking to wrestle back control of the
oilfields after an idea floated to jointly patrol the fields with
neighbour and long-time enemy Sudan apparently fell through.
Thousands of people in Bentiu have taken shelter in a United Nations compound while thousands more have already fled the town.
Peace talks got under way in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa
recently, but have so far largely proved fruitless, as the parties
differ on the issue of political prisoners held by the Juba
administration.
South Sudan split from Sudan in July 2011, taking with it
three-quarters of the original country’s oil reserves. Khartoum relies
heavily on revenues from oil production in South Sudan, which must use
its neighbour’s midstream and port infrastructure for exports.
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