Sudan: Oil Riches and Troop Withdrawals

The negotiated Jan. 9 deadline for the Sudanese armed forces to withdraw from southern Sudan will not be met. While official statements might say otherwise, Sudan will maintain thousands of troops in the South's oil-rich states — the country's economic lifeline. Khartoum will use a number of excuses but will rely heavily on the cover of joint patrols with Sudan People's Liberation Movement units to maintain its troop presence in the South.