The Office of the President says oil companies have evacuated non-essential

staff from oil fields in Upper Nile State following fighting between government forces and forces loyal to Riek Machar in Malakal last week.

Upper Nile is the only state where oil production has not been affected by the crisis in the country.

When fighting broke out in December last year, Unity State, which used to produce 45,000 barrels a day, stopped pumping oil to Sudan and evacuated workers from the oil fields.

The Press Secretary in the office of the President, Ateny Wek Ateny, spoke to Eye Radio about operations in the oil fields.

“When the rebels attacked Malakal, after the news of the recapture of Malakal by the rebels and the tactical withdrawal of our forces, the oil companies felt threatened so they have evacuated some non-essential staff. This is a normal procedure: when fighting is reported to be nearing oil installations, you evacuate non-essential staff. But yesterday the attack on the oilfield was thwarted which has sent a signal that the oilfield is not threatened anymore.’’

Mr. Wek added that the non-essential staff who have been evacuated will return to the oilfields as soon as calm returns to the area.

About the peace talks in Addis Ababa, Mr. Ateny Wek said the chief negotiator of the government delegation came to Juba two days ago for consultations.

‘‘The chief negotiator was here yesterday and was consulting with the President, the advisers, the cabinet ministers as well as other political parties so that the position of the government with regards to the negotiations is put in one place. So the document is now enriched and the chief negotiator is now ready to return to Addis Ababa to the negotiating table,’’ he said.