South Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SSLM/A)
Mayom, South Sudan
December, 10, 2011
The South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) is seriously advising
Total oil Company not to waste its resources to pursue an
ambition to construct oil pipeline from South Sudan through
Uganda to a seaport in Kenya without prior approval from
revolutionary forces that control more than forty percent of
rural areas of Unity State.
The SSLA is deeply troubled by Total’s naivety to deal with
Kiir’s regime in Juba without considering the fact that the
oilfields of Unity State operate for the time being because
of SSLA’s approval. The Total’s ambition to construct oil
pipeline from South Sudan to Kenya via Uganda cannot take
place if SSLA is not involved in the deal. Total might have
been deceived by the corrupt regime in Juba without
considering the facts on the ground.
The SSLA would like to advise Total that Kiir’s regime does
not control Unity State and the idea of constructing oil
pipeline could not be possible without expressed permission
from SSLA which controls areas where the oil wells are
located. For such a project to materialize, the Total will
have to get permission from SSLA to construct the pipeline.
Whether a construction of a new pipeline is required is
something that needs to be decided by a democratic
government that shall be formed soon after the demise of
Salva Kiir’s regime. The priority of the people of South
Sudan now is to get rid of Salva Kiir’s corrupt government.
Constructing a new pipeline is something that needs study by
taking into consideration the cost and environmental
concerns.
There are people in the South who believe that building a
new oil pipeline from Unity State and Upper Nile to Kenya
has to be based on environmental considerations. Experience
from other countries has shown that incidents of leaks or
explosions of the pipeline could cause serious environmental
damages. That was one of the reasons the United States
government in November refused to permit the construction of
oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.
We would seriously advise Total that South Sudanese do not
approve the company’s secret dealings with corrupt regime of
Salva Kiir. Such ambitious project of constructing a
pipeline from South Sudan to Kenya would need expressed
permission from SSLA. Total should not be under illusion
that Salva Kiir would guarantee their security when they
embark on constructing a new pipeline. Such a project can
only take place after peace is achieved in the entire South
Sudan. But before the corrupt regime of Salva Kiir is
overthrown, any company signing deals with Juba’s corruption
lords is wasting its resources because those deals will be
rescinded once the corrupt regime is deposed.
The SSLA advises Total to wait for the formation of a
democratic government that shall take place as soon as
Kiir’s regime is overthrown. It is the government which is
answerable to the people of South Sudan that shall decide to
construct a new pipeline based on feasibility studies which
take into consideration environment concerns.
For contact:
Information Department
SSLM/A Headquarters
Mayom, South Sudan
Email: southsudanliberationarmy@hotmail.com
