Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s Ambassador to Uganda, Simon Juach, warned of possible economic consequences from the ongoing fighting in Sudan.
Juach said that the fighting could affect the economies of neighboring countries, especially South Sudan, which heavily depends on Sudan.
“South Sudan will feel the pinch because if our source of hard currency earnings is affected, then we aren’t going to have the purchasing power to buy the products that are currently being imported to South Sudan from Uganda and the other East African countries,” the South Sudanese envoy told Hot Seat Radio in Kampala.
He said whatever affects Sudan could likely have a negative impact on South Sudan, and the other East African member states. On Saturday, fierce fighting broke out between the Sudan armed forces and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces, in Khartoum.
The fighting has continued despite calls for a ceasefire from the IGAD heads of state to mediate the talks.
This raised questions of safety in the crude oil exportation from Port Sudan to the world market if the conflict continues for weeks.
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights estimates, South Sudan, sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest oil producer, produces about 160,000 barrels a day.
South Sudan relies on Sudan to export its crude, which travels through a pipeline to Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast via Khartoum, where fighting has been going on.
The continuing clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the army will likely cause significant setbacks for the smooth operation of the port.
Ambassador Juach said the fear of the ramifications of this conflict on South Sudan’s economy and the stability of the region prompted President Kiir to champion the cessation of hostilities between warring parties in Sudan.
On Sunday, an extraordinary assembly of the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) heads of state and government, held a virtual meeting about the fighting in Sudan.
The IGAD heads of state called on the two conflicting parties to unconditionally cease hostilities immediately, de-escalate tension, allow unrestricted humanitarian access to civilians, and ensure Sudanese citizens observed the holy month of Ramadan in peace.
President Kiir, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti are among the regional presidents supposed to travel to Khartoum to bring the two warring parties to the negotiating table, but the fighting has continued despite calls to cease hostilities.
“His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the Presidents of Kenya and Djibouti could not travel to Khartoum as per the resolution of the IGAD heads of state and government due to the security situation there,” Tut Gatluak said.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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