President Bashir threatens to cut off oil pipes

Sudan's president Omar Hassan al-Bashir has threatened to close oil industry pipelines if the south refuses to pay fees or revenues after it succeeds next month.

On July 9th, South Sudan will become a separate country, however, the two regions are struggling to come to an agreeable arrangement for the management of the oil industry after the split.

Three quarters of Sudan's oil is in the south, however most of the pipelines, oil refineries and the main oil port are all in the north.

As a result, president Bashir has warned that unless the south continues to hand over half of its oil revenue following the separation, as agreed in the 2005 peace deal, or pays for using the north's oil infrastructure, the pipelines will be closed.

"Either the split continues, or we will take our due from any barrel that passes through our land," Bashir told an audience in Port Sudan, referring to transit fees.

"If they don't want that, we will shut the line," he added.

Southerners voted for independence in a referendum in January.