Pres Bashir in Juba 2011

Sudanese President Omar Bashir has ordered his Oil minister to ensure that no South Sudanese oil flows to Port Sudan.

The move comes weeks after mister Bashir warned that he would close down the pipelines if Juba does not stop supporting Sudanese rebel groups, an accusation South Sudan denies.

“We granted them their country with all its resources, including money and electricity. And we told them that even though you separated from us, we will still cooperate and stand with you, but they have decided to choose leaders who cut good relations us,” President told a gathering in Khartoum yesterday.

“My comrade Awad Al-Jaz [oil minister], I had given these people two weeks to stop what they are doing. But up to now, they’ve not stopped. Tomorrow, tomorrow, Awad, this is an order; go to oil companies, all the pipelines must be blocked,” he added.

Mr. Bashir went on to call for holy war against South Sudan.

However, in response, the cabinet this afternoon, held an emergency meeting to discuss president Bashir’s threat to stop South Sudanese oil from flowing to Port Sudan.

Information Minister Doctor Barnaba Marial addressed the media shortly after the media.

“The Council of Ministers studied the decision – why president Omar-al Bashir took the decision yet there is the cooperation agreement in which the two countries have committed themselves to implement through the matrixes. And it’s not only a cooperation agreement between the two parties. it also involves international elements like the African Union -High Implementation Panel and the African Union Peace and Security Council at the UN Security Council 2046.”

Oil started flowing again in April after Juba and Khartoum reached a deal in Addis Ababa, three months ago, helping to ease tensions.

According to analysts, President Bashir’s move is seen as retaliatory, especially after President Kiir signed a deal recently with Toyota to build the Lamu pipeline project.