Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to resolve pending disputes and to implement existing agreements between the two countries, in an attempt to end tensions and establish comprehensive reconciliation.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit concluded on Thursday a two-day visit to Khartoum, where he held talks with his counterpart Omar al-Bashir on the outstanding issues between the two countries.
During a joint news conference, Bashir underlined the strong political will to promote cooperation between Khartoum and Juba, and to end the period of tensions that have inflicted heavy burdens on the population.
The Sudanese president described Salva Kiir’s visit as a real and new breakthrough for the relations between the two countries, saying in this regard: “We have agreed to sponsor the implementation of the existing arrangements and to overcome all obstacles through direct communication.”
For his part, Salva Kiir said his talks with Bashir have led to a road map for moving forward.
“We have started and will not retreat ... I ordered my team to implement what we signed immediately, especially the security files, and I am confident that we will achieve positive results,” he stated.
The two presidents concluded their talks by signing a joint statement, stressing the acceleration of joint cooperation agreements, the formation of a border commission, the convening of political consultation committees and the continuation of humanitarian aid to southern Sudan.
According to the statement, the two parties agreed to activate the joint political and security mechanism emanating from joint cooperation agreements, accelerate the establishment of a demilitarized zone, and play an active role in the African Union.
The joint statement, for the first time since the outbreak of oil disputes between the two countries, emphasized the approval of the Government of South Sudan to pay the debts of Sudan, resulting from arrears of fees for the use of Sudanese oil facilities to export oil from South Sudan.
