It’s not even a year old, and already it’s affecting the global oil market.  South Sudan says it is halting all oil exports, because of disputes with Sudan.

Recently South Sudan officials accused Sudan of stealing its oil.  In the latest case they say Sudan stole 650,000 barrels of oil, which was loaded onto a Sudan ship.  Sudan replied by saying South Sudan failed to pay import duties on the oil.  Currently South Sudan must ship its oil through Sudan to ports on the Red Sea.

On January 29, 2012, South Sudan stopped all oil exports in retaliation.

Currently the United Nations has Peacekeepers in South Sudan, they include military and police units from several dozens of countries, including the United States.  Japan is also sending military units in February.

On January 24, Russia announced it was withdrawing the majority of its  helicopter forces from South Sudan, by April 1.   The UN claims the Russian  Peacekeeping forces have been specifically targeted for attacks: “It is clear that the reason why Russia has (grounded) the helicopters is based on the threat and the risk the troops have faced.”-Susana Malcorra, UN Department of Field Support