Post-independence civil war in South Sudan has seen about 400,000 deaths and now the country is trying to come out of it and see the black gold pumping but it is a big question who will mostly gain from expanded oil production.
Until now billions of dollars have been lost in oil revenue in the war-torn country and following power-sharing peace deal the oil production will expand in South Sudan.
The primary focus now is to open up some of the fields which were shut in 2012 with proper security by the government of Sudan mostly. All the oil fields will not resume production as the reserves on those depleted and it wouldn’t be profitable opening up after about six years of shutting down.
The peace arrangement made reveals Sudan will be dominating the oil fields in the north, Equatoria in the south and economy of capital Juba will be controlled by Uganda. Experts believe this may at least reduce the violence for material benefits.
However, the monetary benefits from such arrangement will not go to the ordinary people of South Sudan, but the oil companies will be at advantageous position apart from governments in Khartoum and Kampala. The elites too will be benefited.
But analysts fear the bargain is good as long as the money keeps flowing and the beneficiaries are satisfied with the shares. The whole deal may crash if the oil supply is disrupted or the prices come down drastically.
Therefore, the deal is not a kind of peace. It is simply a bargain in a political market. It is not a best plan.
