Up-to-date Status of North and South Sudan, by Courtney Jackson

The relations between North and South Sudan have evolved from a civil divide to an economic crisis – especially for South Sudan. Prior extortion and embargo placed on South Sudan by North Sudan still proves disparaging for the South’s overall stability. Connections have been completely severed and even peace markets for the sale of oil have been closed along the country’s new border. South Sudan is holding on to all it has – oil. Oil, the most prized natural resource of the Middle East, is the only reason North and South Sudan still even communicate. North Sudan has even taken it to the extent of bombing South Sudan as reported on November 11, 2011 (Reeves). The militarized regime of Khartoum is trying to make new borders between North and South Sudan and relinquish possession of oil fields that South Sudan possesses.

Since the initial embargo when North Sudan monopolized the airlines, cut off food and fuel supply, froze central bank accounts and completely isolated South Sudan economically and politically, the area now known as South Sudan has suffered desolate conditions in addition to the newly reported bombings. The United States has tried to relieve the conditions and aid South Sudan by raising the capacity of the South Sudanese army to provide defense for their newborn country (Collins). Crime and mortality rates are high in South Sudan, so the United States is providing increased aid to ease trade sanctions and to stop the recurring violence in South Sudan.

In the novel Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih, the North asserts that the South will never be in good terms with the North if they keep embracing the West – in reality this would mean their association with the United States. In an article found in the Sudan Tribune called “North-South Sudan economic war will not take prisoners” by John A. Akec, the claim about the west is asserted by Nafi Ali Nafi as he states that the South Sudan government must “distant itself from the West if they dream of building any cooperative relations with the North;” with that said, the ultimate strain of relations between North and South Sudan is for economic reasons – reasons that hinder South Sudan more than North Sudan can even imagine. South Sudan is struggling to maintain their independence and thrive without the supplementary political and economical support of North Sudan. All South Sudan has is a new beginning and lots of oil; they hit rock bottom and can go nowhere but up from here.

Works Cited
Akec, John A. "North-South Sudan Economic War Will Not Take Prisoners." Sudan Tribune. Sudan Tribune, 30 July 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. .

Collins, Toby. "US Eases North Sudan Trade Regulations." Sudan Tribune. Sudan Tribune, 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. .

Reeves, Eric. "Full-scale War Looms as Khartoum Bombs Civilians in South Sudan." Sudan Tribune. Sudan Tribune, 12 Nov. 2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. .