The government of Southern Sudan has re-iterated that it does not support insurgents in the north after Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir ordered that the flow of oil should be stopped. Experts said on Sunday however that the process could take weeks. Bashir on Saturday said petroleum companies working in South Sudan would be informed about “shutting down the pipeline” from Sunday, a report said. The order came after Bashir again warned the South over backing rebels, who analysts say humiliated the authorities with recent attacks. South Sudan’s government in Juba denied the claims. “I think if you do it properly it would take 45 days to stop the oil without causing damage”, said an expert. “It’s not like opening and closing a water tap.” This will be the second closure of South Sudan’s oil wells and the Sudanese pipeline system in about 18 months. Production had only resumed in early April after the two countries agreed on detailed timetables to normalise relations after intermittent border clashes.
