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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Wed Sep 01 2010 - 11:43:17 EDT
Q & A with Sudan's Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Lual Deng
By Mohammad Ali Salih
Wednesday 01 September 2010
Washington, Asharq Al-Awsat- In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in
Washington, Dr. Lual Achuil Deng, the new Sudanese Minister of Petroleum,
and the first Southerner to be appointed in this position, after years of
disputes between Northern and Southern Sudanese over the production of oil
wells that are mostly in the South, said he has started "an era of
transparency."
He added: "We will put everything on the Internet, for the Southerners, the
Northerners, and the rest of the world to verify. We will put up daily
production figures and daily revenue figures."
Describing himself as a "long-standing unionist," he acknowledged that the
amount of time left before the scheduled referendum in the South, in January
2011, might not be enough to convince Southerners not to vote for Southern
secession. But, he stressed: "I am an optimistic person."
Deng (61 years old), was born in Bor, in Jonglei State in Southern Sudan. He
holds two degrees from American universities: an M.A. in Economics from the
University of Iowa, and PhD in Economics from University of Wisconsin. In
Iowa, his colleague and close friend was John Garang, who studied there and
obtained a PhD in Economics. Later, Garang established and led Sudan's
People Liberation Movement (SPLM), Sudan's Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA),
and fought in the struggle that culminated in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA), which ended half a century of civil war between Southern
rebels and the Sudanese army.
Deng, after completing his PhD, joined the World Bank, then the African
Development Bank, and later rejoined his friend Garang as an economic
consultant, and participated in the talks that culminated in the CPA. When
the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) was established, in accordance with
the CPA, Deng became Minister of Finance in Juba. Later, he moved to
Khartoum to join the Government of National Unity (GONU) as State Minister
of Finance.
After the national elections in April 2010, and the reshuffling of the
National Government, Deng was appointed Minister of Petroleum, the first
Southerner to take the post.
Last week, he visited the US, for the first time in his new position.
Q: What is the purpose of your visit to the US and what were the results of
your discussions with American officials?
A: I am visiting the US as a private person. I did not meet with any
American officials.
Q: Do you believe that the US officials support the continuation of Sudan as
a united country, or prefer that the Southerners vote for separation?
A: I haven't participated in any discussion with American officials on this
subject. Of course, the US has repeatedly declared its support for the full
implementation of the CPA, including the scheduled referendum in January;
and also its strong desire that the Southerners vote freely and fairly for
either unity or separation. I understand this position and strongly support
it. But during private talks, it seemed that the Americans would prefer the
continuation of a united Sudan. I believe that is the case because,
according to their interpretation of American national security and
strategic interests, a separate South would not be a viable state. It would
face many internal problems; and would endanger the unity and stability of
neighboring countries; in the overall region of the Horn of Africa, to the
east of Sudan, and the region of Equatorial Africa, to the south of Sudan.
Q: Do you think General Scott Grasion, President Obama's special envoy to
Sudan, supports Sudan's unity or the secession of the South?
A: As I said, I didn't have any official discussions with any American
official on this subject, but my [previous] private talks with General
Grasion led me to believe that he was in favour of unity.
Q: How about President Obama?
A: I have never met him. But, I believe he also prefers a united Sudan. If
for no other reason, because instability in the South, the North, and in the
wider region, would not serve US interests. Now, you work and live in
Washington, and you know the complications surrounding US foreign policy. As
for the US policy towards Sudan, you know there are different lobbying
groups that, at least during the last few years, have played important
roles. I don't want to name names, but you know the organizations and the
lobbying forces that prefer Southern Sudan's separation. You and I know this
is how US foreign and domestic policies are formulated. I would say: let us
make use of the freedom of the American system and present our views as
strongly as we can.
Q: You are a leader in the SPLM; do you support the separation of the South
or a united Sudan?
A: I am indebted to John Garang, my colleague, friend, boss and teacher. I
was initially in favour of separation, but he convinced me that it is in
Southern, let alone Northern, interests to keep Sudan united. Garang used to
say: "Look at the Americans. They fought each other and their country was
almost divided into two or more [countries] during the 19th Century. But,
they succeeded in ending the Civil War, and agreed to peacefully solve their
problems and maintain a united country. Now, the Americans are a shining
example for the whole world in terms of plurality, and racial and religious
tolerance."
I also support Sudan's unity because I have been a strong believer in
Pan-Africanism, as pioneered by Kwami Nkruma, Ghana's first president, and
in Negritude, as pioneered by Leopold Senghor, Senegal's first president.
Therefore, wouldn't it be logical that I also support the unity of Sudan?
Q: What do you say to your fellow Southern Sudanese who support the
separation of the South?
A: What I just told you. On one side for me, it is a matter of principle,
that unity has more advantages than separation. In other words, one hand
can't clap, but two can.
On the other side, there are tangible advantages as far as the Southerners
are concerned. Take my example. I used to be a member of the Southern
government, and am now a member of the National government. Not many
Northern Sudanese have this advantage. Right now, the Southerners rule
themselves and share in ruling the North at the same time. What else do we,
the Southerners, want?
Q: What do you say to the many Southern Sudanese in the US who clearly
support the separation of the South?
A: First, I believe those who live in the US, this free, democratic and
highly developed country should learn a lesson or two and try to apply some
of the American achievements in Sudan.
Secondly, we all might complain about the conditions in Sudan, but we know
that once we leave Sudan and live in foreign countries, we tend to miss our
native country, and tend to appreciate it despite all its problems.
Thirdly, as I said, I was in favour of separation, but became older and
wiser and changed my mind. I hope this young generation of Southerners in
the US will grow up and become wise. In the meantime, I would say to them:
"Don't sit here and make judgments about the far away Sudan. Don't talk
about the possibility of the renewal of war if you are not ready to go there
and fight. Don't enjoy the air-conditioning here and think you can express
the feelings of your brothers and sisters in the forests."
Q: Some Southerners severely criticize, and complain about, the policies of
the National Congress Party (NCP, led by President al-Bashir and the ruling
party of Sudan); and say that its Islamic Civilization Project (ICP) is the
reason they support separation?
A: I don't want to defend al-Bashir and the ICP because they are able to
defend themselves. But I want to defend the Sudan, its unity, heritage,
hopes and aspirations. The Sudan, throughout centuries, has seen rulers come
and go, and projects appearing and disappearing.
Q: Some of your Southern colleagues say you have abandoned "Sudan Jadeed"
(New Sudan) slogan that was pioneered by John Garang?
A: John Garang raised the "Sudan Jadeed" slogan. Also, he raised "Sudan
Wahid" (One Sudan) slogan.
Also, how can the Southerners establish a new Sudan, if they want to leave
Sudan itself?
Furthermore, I strongly believe that the new Sudan is simply the old Sudan.
I believe that Kush civilization (before Islam and Arabism) was a pure
African civilization. I will tell you a story: recently, my daughter, who
was born in the US and is a US citizen, visited Merowe in northern Sudan and
saw the pyramids that were built by early Sudanese civilizations. She came
back and told me that I was right in opposing Southern separation, and in
saying the new Sudan is indeed the old Sudan.
So, if the North is indeed the South [i.e. a united Sudan], why would the
Southerners want to leave it to the Northerners [laughs]?
Q: There is a leader in the SPLM who is clearly against Southern separation,
Pagan Amum, SPLM Secretary General. Yet in an interview with "Asharq
Alawsat' two months ago, he said the SPLM shouldn't declare whether it
supported unity or separation, and should let the Southerners decide for
themselves?
A: First of all, Amum, sometimes, says things that reflect only his personal
views. Secondly, why are we leaders if we do not want to lead? Thirdly,
Silva Kiir, Vice President of Sudan, President of the GOSS and of SPLM, has
said many times that he supports a united Sudan.
Q: Some Southerners accuse President al-Bashir's government of cheating the
South out of oil revenues, since most of the oil wells are in the South.
A: On my first day as Minister of Petroleum, I declared my policy of
transparency in Sudan's oil sector, and promised that I would start
publishing figures regarding the daily oil output on the Minsitry's website,
on the Internet.
I strongly believe that it is this lack of transparency, or the perceived
lack of transparency, that has fuelled mistrust between partners. We want to
enhance trust between the North and South.
Q: Some Southerners say it is not enough that you declare transparency. You
should compensate the South for the al-Bashir government's deception since
the CPA in 2005.
A: Like I said, I will publish daily production figures. Also, I will
conduct a full independent audit regarding the oil industry since 2005, to
prevent future conflict over oil.
I hope to comfort all the Sudanese by stating that there will now be
transparency, even if it did not exist in the past.
The audit will basically look at oil production since 2005 - it will be
conducted by an independent firm. Our preference is to accelerate the
process so that the results are made available before the referendum.
Q: The international non-governmental organization Global Witness said last
year that there were inconsistencies on the part of the Sudan government,
regarding the exact figures of oil production and revenues. Furthermore it
claimed that roughly six billion dollars, supposed to go the South since the
CPA in 2005, were missing?
A: I don't think this is true. And you can ask Global Witness. Recently,
Global Witness participated in a landmark transparency seminar in Khartoum,
which we organised. Global Witness said it was impressed by the openness
with which all sides participated in the event. They emphasised that the
discrepancies uncovered did not mean that six billion dollars were missing,
but only about 10 percent (about 600 million dollars). Anyway, I assured
them of my new policy of transparency.
Q: What are the prospects of oil production in Sudan?
A: We expect to increase oil production by up to one-third by next year,
reaching as high as 600,000 barrels per day. Current average output is
between 450,000 and 470,000 from the two blends - Nile and Dar.
Recently, we and the Finnish firm, Fenno Caledonian, signed an oil and gas
exploration agreement for the north-eastern part of Sudan, in the states of
Gadaref, Kasala, River Nile, and Gezira. The company also works in Dongola.
As you can see, this indicates the influx of European investment in Sudan.
French oil giant Total, which has a huge untapped reserve in south Sudan,
asked us about guarantees to keep its concessions after the referendum. I
assured them of this, whatever the result of the referendum. As you know,
Western firms mostly pulled out during the North-South civil war and the
sector is currently dominated by Asian companies. But, I want to open the
door for every company, from every country.
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