South Sudan Information Minister, Michael Makuei, on Monday, said the government of that country remained in control of the country’s oil fields.
The leader of a rebellion against South Sudan government, Riek Machar, also the country’s former vice president, had claimed that the rebels were now in control of the country’s oil fields.
Machar, who also said he was ready for dialogue to end the conflict in that country, however, demanded that President Salva Kiir should first release his detained political allies.
Reports also quoted him as saying that his rebel forces were in control of all the major oil fields in Unity and Upper Nile states.
The South Sudan information minister, Makuei, however, told Reuters that the government would not accept a rebel demanding for politicians detained by the authorities over a “foiled coup” to be freed for peace talks to start.
Makuei said “there is no way we will release anybody who is accused of a coup d’état.’’
He described Machar’s comments about controlling South Sudan’s oil fields as “wishful thinking.’’
