© Fabio Bucciarelli/LUZphoto
A crowd wait at the Turalei refugee camp for the arrival of a medical team from Italian NGO Comitato Collaborazione Medica (CCM). Since 'independence' a year ago, thousands of people living in Sudan have been forced to cross the border into South Sudan because of conflict.
A crowd wait at the Turalei refugee camp for the arrival of a medical team from Italian NGO Comitato Collaborazione Medica (CCM). Since 'independence' a year ago, thousands of people living in Sudan have been forced to cross the border into South Sudan because of conflict.
Preying on people's minds in Juba is the thought that the government is about to run out of money - shutting down vital services in an already impoverished country. A few months ago, some thought the government would run out of cash to pay teachers and health workers as early as August; now the prediction is September or the end of the year.
Khartoum is feeling the economic and political heat as well. Taking a leaf out of South Sudan's book, Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, is cutting the number of cabinet posts from 31 to 26. However, other austerity measures - a rise in transport costs and a doubling of fuel and food prices following cuts in subsidies - have provoked demonstrations and calls for Bashir to step down.
Analysts say the calamitous economic situation in both countries could force Juba and Khartoum - with prodding from outside, particularly the US and China - to cut a deal to start the oil flowing again.
Comment: Some 'independence' that is when you're utterly dependent on the NGOs set up by the same vested Western interests that destroyed your country.
The 'humanitarian crisis in Darfur', orchestrated by the US, served as a prelude to the dismemberment of Sudan to punish the government of El-Bashir for daring to conclude oil deals with the Chinese to the detriment of Western companies.