The Sudans’ Oil Agreement : An Important Step on a Long Road Ahead
►http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/206-sudan/51860-the-sudans-oil-agreement-an-important-step-on-a-long-road-ahead.
By Omar Zaki
Think Africa Press
August 28, 2012
After numerous failed negotiations, Sudan and South Sudan finally managed to settle the long disputed transit of oil at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa this month. Disagreement over the transport of South Sudanese oil through Sudan led South Sudan to shut down the production of oil altogether in January, with alarming consequences for both economies. Despite the Sudans’ Oil Agreement leading the way to greater cooperation between the two countries, many issues still remain. The main obstacle to the possibility of peaceful co-existence is the lack of clear borders and border security. Since the independence of South Sudan, conflict endures in Abyei, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
After an unsettling year of failed negotiations, heated disputes, and cross-border violence, Sudan and South Sudan this month came to a landmark agreement over the transit of oil.
Failure between the neighbouring governments to agree on a price for the transport of South Sudanese oil through Sudan eventually led to shutdown of production in January. For two economies heavily dependent on oil, the consequences have been dire. The negotiated breakthrough could therefore have monumental significance for both populations, although there is still far to go and numerous highly contentious issues between Sudan and South Sudan remain unresolved.
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