South Sudan: Peace via Oil – How Hydrocarbons Are Fueling Reconciliation

Oct 4, 2018 | Luris Mulla
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Once again South Sudan’s warring parties, President Salva Kiir and his former Vice President Riek Machar and other opposition groups, have signed a new peace deal. The signing took place during the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) head of states summit in Addis Ababa, September 12. But this time it is different. Many are skeptical that the deal will hold on the account of past failures of the parties to honor similar agreements, such as the 2015 peace deal that was brokered by the IGAD regional block. If successfully implemented, this peace agreement will bring to a close five years of conflict that has killed tens of thousands, displaced up to four million and devastated the economy. Oil is central to South Sudan’s conflict. This lucrative industry was believed to be fuelling the war. To pressure the government, the American administration earlier this year, placed restrictions on 15 of South Sudan’s oil-related companies including the national oil company Nilepet and the Ministry of Petroleum.