People in South Kordofan denied jobs in oil fields

High level of unemployment reported among residents who have been replaced by people from Khartoum

People in the area of El Kilek and El Khorasana, in the western sector of South Kordofan, complained on Sunday about the region’s oil companies refusing to recruit locals in the fields.The situation has developed despite the oil being extracted from areas  in South Kordofan that ensure protection of employment rights of the citizens residing in those areas.

Haj Mekki Humeidan, one of the leaders in the region told Radio Dabanga, “Oil companies refused to appoint residents of the area and all those who have been appointed are from Khartoum.”

He explained that the few residents of the area who had worked earlier in oil fields were expelled from work. Humeidan noted that there is wide spread unemployment in the region owing to unjust practices adopted by the state.

“I would like to call for justice and employment of locals in the oil companies in South Kordofan,” he said.

There are five oil fields in South Kordofan which contribute to the economy of Sudan, which depends heavily on oil exports.

The partial recruitment tactics adopted by the state is reflective of the ethnic repression it practices in various walks of governance.

Compensation denied

On the other hand, residents of the western sector in South Kordofan also complained about oil companies refusing to compensate the affected farms between Heglig to Adarh which have been destroyed to allow pipelines until Port Sudan, in the north of the country.

Port Sudan acts as the major export hub of oil to various countries around the world.

The people complained about the companies and the government not compensating the villages in South Kordofan but doing so for villages outside of the state.

Humeidan told Radio Dabanga, “The western sector including El Kilek, El Khorasana, and all other areas lack development in terms of health, education and roadways. A major problem facing us now is the 70 million cattle that we own which were denied entry to South Sudan after the secession.”

He said the people appealed to the government to build watersheds for their livestock, but the government did not respond to their demands.