Sudan cuts South Sudan pipeline and suspends cooperation
11 June 2013
On June 9 the Government of Sudan cancelled nine security and economic pacts with South Sudan, following border clashes between the two states. "We will stop all nine agreements, not only oil," Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman said at a press conference.
His announcement followed an order on June 8 from President Omar al-Bashir to shut the pipeline carrying South Sudanese crude for export. The command came after Bashir warned the South to stop backing rebels in the north, which South Sudan's government in Juba denies.
After months of intermittent clashes, Sudan and South Sudan agreed in early March to detailed timetables for normalising relations by setting up a border buffer zone and implementing eight other key pacts.
South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July 2011 following a 22-year civil war.