South Sudan: Washington wants to bend Juba by targeting its oil

The United States continues to put pressure on South Sudanese power. After launching an arms embargo in February, Washington has just sanctioned 15 oil companies in the country.

For Americans, it’s about attacking Juba in the wallet to force power to act for peace.

Washington says it has chosen fifteen entities whose revenues contribute to the crisis in South Sudan.

State Department spokesman Heather Nauert said, “The South Sudanese government and corrupt official actors are using the money to buy weapons and finance non-regular militias that undermine peace, security and stability”.

Among the 15 targets are the South Sudan Mining Ministry, the Petroleum Ministry, the state-owned Nile Petroleum, and the Dar Petroleum Operating Company, a company run by a Sino-Malaysian consortium.

The entities do not see their funds frozen in the United States but are now subject to a special authorization to trade with the Americans.

Washington is targeting oil, a vital sector for South Sudan’s economy. It accounts for most of its exports and 60% of its domestic product according to the World Bank.

In addition last year, Juba had announced that it wanted to double its oil production this year to 290,000 barrels a day.

Washington, the largest donor to South Sudan, is also calling on its partners to take the same steps. “It is a counter-productive decision that does not facilitate the restoration of peace and stability,” responded the South Sudanese Minister of Petroleum.