JEM accuses Sudan government of oil thefts

Justice and Equality Movement says the regime is flouting international drilling standards in oil excavation areas of Darfur and Kordofan.Spokesperson of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Jibril Adam Bilal accused the Sudanese government of violating international drilling standards in the country’s resource rich areas of Darfur and Kordofan, on Thursday.

Bilal said, that the concessions and contracts handed out by the government don’t comply with international standards. He added that corporate privileges are being granted to companies that do not care about the interest of citizens in the oil-producing areas.

Moreover, Bilal accused the oil companies of not following measures that prevent environmental degradation. He claimed that all oil wells in Darfur and Kordofan are being dug beyond permissible limits and warned of these areas becoming vulnerable to premature depletion.

“JEM rejects such mismanagement of oil reserves, and does not tolerate oil pillages in Darfur and Kordofan, killing citizens,” Bilal said. “The government borrowed billions of dollars in debt with oil as a security deposit. With these loans the regime bought many weapons and military equipment, which have been used in attacks on innocent civilians,” he added.