Sudan, South Sudan to resume oil talks on February 10
Oil was a major setback to the continued mediation for peace by the neighboring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia. The negotiations were headed by the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan Thabo Mbeki – the former president of South Africa. The crux of the problem is the passage of the oil pipelines through Sudan and the non payment by the south to the north for such pipelines.
Though there seemed to be an all round consensus during the talks by both parties, the last minute turned around by South Sudan to refuse to sign the agreement apparently without giving any reason , resulted in the crumbling of all the efforts by the mediators for this deal.
The Negotiations discussed the economic file, oil, trade, and financial accounts. The Head of the Sudanese Delegation Iddris Mohammed Abd AlGadir , who was present in Addis Ababa said that the negotiations will stop till solutions are found, he added that the negotiations will resume on the 10th of February.
Whereas Chairman of the Sudanese Oil Committee Al Zubair Mohammed Alhasan, was of the opinion that there is no cause for any concern as he was confident that a solution would soon be found as at the end of the day, both the countries were one till the recent past and it was just a matter of ironing out the creases. He added that the South want to overthrow the government by the support of the West.
Political analysts are very optimistic, they observe that both sides will reach an agreement at the end, and the mediator is playing a very big role.
South Sudan was exporting oil for about 5 months, since its separation on the 9th of July 2011through the north without paying fees for the pipelines nor the port fees.
Though an effort is on the region to ensure that peace is brokered, the sudden withdrawal by South casts many doubts whether this is a deliberate act with an ulterior motive or is just naivety which will soon be reversed. Only time will tell.
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