Kenya gives go-ahead to oil imports

The Kenyan government has agreed to allow the tax-free importation of Sudanese oil after fears were raised of a trade war between the two countries, the ‘Daily Nation’ reported on Tuesday. The newspaper quoted Kenyan Foreign Minister Chris Obure as saying Kenyan companies were free to import oil from Sudan in the context of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa, meaning that they would not be required to pay import duty. Human rights groups have criticised the oil industry in Sudan, claiming government forces have committed human rights abuses against people living around the oilfields, and forcibly depopulated concession areas to make way for oil exploration. The ‘Daily Nation’ reported that the decision to allow oil imports from Sudan under COMESA rules was made after a meeting last week between President Daniel arap Moi and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army leader John Garang. The rebel leader was reported to have said the rebel group would push for the creation of a fund to allow the sharing of oil revenues between southern Sudan and Khartoum.