After getting fired in a televised presidential decree in Juba a few days ago, South Sudan’s former minister of Petroleum Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkouth has reportedly fled to Khartoum aboard a secretly chartered plane, and announced his return to the mother SPLM-IO of Dr. Riek Machar.
Continue reading “Ousted former South Sudan oil minister rejoins Riek Machar’s rebel group”
The President of South Sudan has ordered a three day stoppage of oil production in honour the King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdulaziz who passed away on 23rd after living for 90 years.
Addressing the nation on state TV, the President of World cheapest oil producer said the “people of South Sudan stand with the men of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as they mourn their king.”
A separate statement is expected to be released later today with regards to the women of that Arab Kingdom.
The President is said to be considering suspending issuing driving license to women for some days in honour of the king.
The move to suspend oil production comes just hours after oil facilitates were attacked and set ablaze by opposition forces. Sources have confirmed that production has already halted in some stations.
Saakam could not independently verify whether the two (announcement to halt production, and the rebels actually causing the closure) were by design or by chance to honour the Arab king.
The suspension is intended to last just three days, but experts believe that the actual and official resumption might take longer, given all technical and other unforeseen challenges that are bound to pop up in the next few days.
South Sudan is receiving what experts believe is arguably the lowest oil price in the world. Oil production was bound to be disrupted after rebel resumed attacks targeting oil fields.
The rebels have not said whether they will burn any more oil fields to honour the same king.
CORRECTION: In grief and confusion of the sad news, we wrongly printed the name of the current King Salman as the dead king.
Saakam! 