Last updated: 16 june, 2010 - 09:49 GMT
Sudan's ruling party hand the SPLM the oil ministry
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President Omar al-Bashir's ruling National Congress Party have awarded the potentially powerful oil ministry to its partner, the Southern People's Liberation Movement.
Most of the country's oil is in the south but Sudan watchers say there is more behind the move.
A referendum on southern autonomy is expected to take place next year.
BBC Network Africa's Audrey Brown asked Laura Jones, a policy analyst at the US-based Enough Project, what she made of this decision.
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