The Arabic daily al Ray al Aam published today carried the news that George Athor, the former SPLA general turned rebel, has taken over Bentiu, the capital of Unity state in the western Upper Nile region. In addition an SPLA officer, Guluak Gai, has joined forces with the mutinous General. The claim to the capture of Bentiu by Athor's forces seems to be a media orphan, mentioned as far as I can find only in al Ray al Aam. Bentiu borders the Thar Jath oil field in block 5A, a concession operated by the White Nile Petroleum Operating Company (WNPOC), a joint venture of Petronas Malaysia (50%) and Sudapet Sudan (50%). Apart from Block 5A WNPOC operates blocks 5B and 8. Thar Jath is the site of a major oil processing facility.
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