Following three days of contradicting media reports, Talisman Energy confirmed today the final sale of all of its interest in the Greater Nile Oil Project in Sudan to ONGC Videsh Limited ("OVL"), a subsidiary of India's national oil company.
Talisman Energy of Calgary, Alberta has been under intense pressure from human rights organizations because of its involvement in this oil project in southern Sudan. Oil revenues have been used extensively by the government to finance weaponry and attacks which have often targeted civilians, including hospitals, churches, and relief centres. Runways supposedly for oilfield purposes only have been used by military planes to conduct these bombings. Government-backed militia groups have been guilty of involvement in massacres, torture of civilians, and other atrocities, including slavery.
With the sale of its interest in Sudan for $1.13 billion CDN, Talisman is hoping to leave behind the problems and controversy that have followed the company since its purchase of these assets in 1998. The problems that the oil development has brought to the people of Sudan, however, will not be as easily disposed.
Pray for the people of southern Sudan who face these ongoing attacks. Pray that the peace talks will be successful and that the government forces will live up to the ceasefire agreements. The feature story of the April edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter reports on the state of the church in south-eastern Sudan following a visit by Voice of the Martyrs earlier this year. Subscribe today to receive a twelve-month subscription to Canada's only monthly publication on Christian persecution.
Population
