ZCZC
BCN-16
SUDAN-EGYPT-ECONOMY-OIL
Sudan raps ‘illegal’ Egypt oil exploration in Red Sea
KHARTOUM, March 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Sudan warned Wednesday against an
“illegal” offering of oil and gas exploration blocks by Egypt in the Red Sea
area of Halayeb, a territory claimed by both countries.
Egypt’s occupation of the Halayeb triangle, which lies in a mineral-rich
border region of the Red Sea, has been a bone of contention for years between
Cairo and Khartoum despite an overall improvement in ties since an October
summit.
“This is an illegal operation that could face legal consequences for the
parties that are involved in carrying it out,” Sudan’s minister of state for
oil and gas, Saad el-Deen el-Bushra, said in a statement carried by the
official SUNA news agency.
On March 10, Egypt’s South Valley Egyptian Petroleum Holding Company
invited bids for 10 oil and gas exploration blocks in what it said were
Egyptian territorial waters in the Red Sea.
It did not specify the exact location of the offered blocks.
“Announcing four of those blocks inside the Sudanese territory of Halayeb
is a direct intrusion into Sudan’s oil and gas ministry’s authority of
granting licenses for such explorations in this area,” Bushra said.
“I’m calling on all companies, consultants and study groups to stop their
activities in this area or else they will face legal consequences.”
Bushra said Khartoum was ready for joint exploration work in that area but
only under an agreement between the two countries.
Relations between Cairo and Khartoum had plunged in early 2017 when
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir accused Egypt of supporting rebels in
conflict zones, including Darfur in western Sudan.
Sudan in May 2017 banned the import of animal and other agricultural
products.
But in October, Sudan lifted the ban as ties improved following talks in
Khartoum between Bashir and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Egypt has this year repeatedly called for stability in its southern
neighbour after protests erupted on December 19 against Bashir’s rule of
three decades.
“Egypt fully supports the security and stability of Sudan, which is
integral to Egypt’s national security,” Sisi said in January.
Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December following a government
decision to triple the price of bread.
The protests turned into nationwide demonstrations against Bashir’s rule,
with protesters calling on him to step down.
Bashir has remained defiant and imposed a nationwide state of emergency on
February 22.
BSS/AFP/HR/0955