Effect of oil reserves availability on cross-border conflicts of the disputed region of Abyei in two Sudans.

  ABSTRACT : Worldwide, conflicts between neighbouring countries have become a teething problem in the international diplomacy and policy arena. These are feared to escalate in the near future, since the world population is expected to hit 10 billion people by 2050. Against this backdrop, the current level of competition for resources is anticipated to grow manifold because of the pressing need to sustain additional mouths by then. Oil is a strategic resource that has fermented conflicts between countries sharing the resource. Despite this, the magnitude of the cross-border conflict between Sudan and South Sudan has not been documented. Thus, the study examined the effect of shared oil reserves in Abyei region on conflicts between Sudan and South Sudan. Quantitative data were collected with questionnaires and qualitative data with interviews and focus group discussion. Results indicated that Sudan and South Sudan have often conflicted over the oil reserves. Both quantitative and qualitative findings revealed that the conflicts are even anticipated to worsen in the near future, given the strategic advantage that the oil reserve bestows to either country. The study concluded that oil reserve conflicts are likely to ravage the livelihoods beyond what is seen or experienced currently, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to cease the existing hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan through principaled dialogue.

KEYWORDS : Oïl reserve, Conflict, Resources, Cross-border, Sudan, South Sudan, Livelihoods, Dialogue