The Wire

Less than a year after becoming independent, South Sudan is edging towards a war with its northern neighbour, Sudan. In recent months both countries have clashed over claims to territory and the region’s rich oil reserves. Yesterday the conflict escalated when Sudanese warplanes bombed an oil-rich border town in South Sudan, killing a boy and injuring ten others.  The international community has called for an end to all hostilities, but Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has said the south Sudanese only understand the language of the gun, and that time for talks has passed.