Oil Workers Seen as Target in New Phase of South Sudan's War
- Six staff seized in crude-rich north of the country this month
- Insurgents’ actions seen as effort to choke key revenue source
This article is for subscribers only.
Crude oil brings in the cash to keep South Sudan’s army fighting. That may have made oil workers a target for rebels waging the African nation’s three-year civil war.
The seizure of six workers, including three foreigners, in the oil-rich north this month is the latest blow for authorities trying to exploit sub-Saharan Africa’s third-biggest reserves. Insurgents, who said they captured the two Indians and a Pakistani during fighting, described such actions as a reminder to foreigners to stay away from oil-production zones. South Sudan’s crude is mainly pumped by China National Petroleum Corp., Malaysia’s Petroliam Nasional Bhd. and Oil & Natural Gas Corp. of India.