(Ecofin Agency) - In South Sudan, the Ministry of Petroleum has ordered oil companies operating in the oil sector in the country, to recall all their former employees who had abandoned their jobs as a result of the outbreak of civil war on 15 December 2013.

According to the Minister of Petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth (photo), the directive is coming in line with the presidential order which necessitated the recall of civil servants to their former jobs.

“Reference is also made to the Republican Order NO: 25/2016 for the Reinstatement of the Civil Servants at the National and State levels who had abandoned their positions following the crisis in the Republic of South Sudan on 15th December 2013 A.D. In the light of this, I am directing all the Joint Operating Companies (JOCs) to reinstate all the employees who abandoned their jobs,” Gatkuoth said.

While several former employees in the private oil sector abandoned their jobs due to the civil war, others were dismissed by companies when their operations were affected by the war.

Companies like the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), which operated in the Unity Field and Sudd Petroleum Operating Company (SPOC), operating in the Tharjiath oil field, both in Unity state since 2014 shut down operations due to the war. Only the Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC), which operates in fields like the Faloij oilfields in the Upper Nile state, continued operations, Sudan Tribune reports.

Anita Fatunji