DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2014.v02i04.007

Pages: 511-521

This paper examines the role of oilfields in driving political and armed tension between the two Sudans (North-South). It argues that oil did not cause the secession of southern region of the rest of Sudan in 2011, however, shortly after the southern’ secession, it greatly rose the tension between the two successor states over oilfields and put their relationships at stake. The paper therefore, aims to explain the character of borderland in the political polarization between north and south Sudan. It also traces a robust link between violence over oilfields such as Abyei, Heglig and aboard dispute over border areas between the two Sudans. Data were collected from archive, government – non-government documents, books and articles. In using a content analysis technique to analyze these data, the results indicate that a heavily dependence on oil as strategic resource is the main reason behind an on-going rivalry to control over bordering-oilfields such as the Abyei and Heglig, rivalry which has recently turned out to be a source of military confrontation and insecurity conditions between the two parts of Sudan. Thus, the paper points out that the use of power vested to the Security Council of the United Nations and Peace, Security Council of the African Union, is essential to sustain a curbing notable conflict over the border between the two parts of Sudan. In addition, cooperation via the two countries in investing the available resources in the border sector rather than contestation is the only way to foster peace and security for the people of the parts of Sudan(north-south).