2008

Almost halfway into Sudan’s crucial national census, security problems, lingering mistrust between Northern and Southern authorities, logistics and heavy rain continue to beset the exercise across states in the South.

Sudan is targeting an increase of 100,000 barrels of oil a day mid-2009 as the result of new investments, particularly Chinese, come on stream

Mubadala Development Company is the lead bidder for a stake in Total SA’s (TOT) South Sudan block, with a decision due by the end of the month.

Massive logistical efforts to transport materials across the south and thousands of trainings have taken months to prepare the war torn south for the event. But many southerners have already decided that it has been – at least in part – a waste of time.

A rebel official within a powerful group in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region wants major Western oil companies to replace Chinese companies in the country, adding that new attacks were being prepared against them.

The Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir and his First Vice President Salva Kiir agreed to resume the census process next week.

Sudan has granted UN peacekeepers access to the contested oil-rich area of Abyei.

Official from the two partners in the government of national unity are trading accusations of military build-up and responsibility of recent tension over Abyei area.

Some 200 heavily armed northern soldiers entered the capital of Sudan's oil-rich Abyei state

The National Congress Party denounced the formation of an administration in the disputed Abyei area by its partner in peace saying is constitutes a grave breach of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).