South Sudan 'choosing path of war' as it seizes oilfield from North

Africa's newest country was accused of choosing the "path of war" yesterday (Thursday) after South Sudan invaded its neighbour and seized a crucial oilfield.

The fighting brought Sudan's successor states closer to all-out conflict than at any time since they split into separate nations last July. South Sudanese forces pushed more than 40 miles into territory internationally recognised as belonging to its neighbour, capturing the Heglig oilfield which accounts for about 55 per cent of Sudan's daily oil production.

President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan hit back by sending Antonov bombers to strike the town of Bentiu in the South yesterday. His neighbour had "chosen the path of war", said Mr Bashir, while Sudan's ambassador to the United Nations warned that Khartoum was ready to "retaliate deep inside South Sudan".

When Sudan was one nation, the Arab Muslim north and the black African south fought the continent's longest civil war, which ended in 2005 with a settlement that allowed the South to secede.

But the two neighbours never agreed on their 1,200-mile frontier, nor on the division of oilfields which lie mainly in the disputed border areas. There are fears that this week's fighting marks the beginning of a new conflict. "Taking Heglig was the first time that the South's forces have stepped on to Sudanese territory, and that is a major escalation," said John Ashworth, a regional analyst based in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

"For Khartoum then to bomb Bentiu, which is nowhere near the border, that again is a major escalation. No one can be 100 per cent sure whether this is a return to full war, or military brinkmanship to force better negotiating positions when it all calms down again."

Britain and America were quick to recognise South Sudan's independence, but both were unusually blunt in condemning its incursion into its neighbour and the capture of Heglig. Henry Bellingham, the British Foreign Office minister responsible for Africa, called this "completely unacceptable" and urged "both sides to establish a ceasefire".

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan yesterday said he was not "under the command" of international powers and would not order his troops out of Heglig or the surrounding area, which he claims is his territory. Later however, South Sudan indicated that it would withdraw from Heglig in return for its neighbour relinquishing other disputed territory.

When South Sudan seceded last year, the country took with it some 75 per cent of the oil reserves. But the pipeline through which the oil is exported runs through the north to the Red Sea. The two neighbours have never agreed on how to share the oil or the revenues. In January, South Sudan stopped exporting its oil after accusing Khartoum of imposing unfair transit fees. The recent clashes have already caused about 100,000 people to flee their homes.