Today, the United States of America hailed the agreements between Sudan and South Sudan on security, oil, financial, nationality, and trade issues.
Reports say the leaders of both coutnries signed a cooperation agreement after talks in the Ethiopian capital that began on Sunday
The agreements include an oil deal last month ensuring the resumption of oil exports.
In addition, both parties also agreed on a demilitarised border buffer zone where troops must withdraw 10 kilometres from the de facto line of control along the disputed frontier.
UN Photo
In her remarks at Washington DC today, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the agreement is a critical step toward the peaceful resolution of the outstanding issues, as required by the African Union Peace and Security Council Roadmap and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2046, and toward fostering a new peace, greater stability and development, and new economic partnerships.
“The leadership shown on both sides is an example of what is possible when people come together in good faith and choose a brighter future for their people.” -Ms. Clinton
The US government hopes that these agreements pave the way for resolution by the Government of Sudan of the conflict and the humanitarian needs in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur, Ms. Clinton said.
According to Ms. Clinton, the leadership of President Thabo Mbeki and the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel has enabled the parties to achieve these agreements.
Their relentless efforts, coupled with the commitment of international partners, particularly the African Union, the chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the United Nations, have brought new hope to the people of Sudan and South Sudan, she added.
“It is a moment worth celebrating, but the success of the agreements will depend on the next steps.” -Ms. Clinton
The United States calls on the parties to maintain their commitments, live up to the serious responsibilities to which they have agreed, and immediately begin to implement these agreements.
The US also strongly urges the parties to agree on a sustainable process to resolve the final status of the disputed border area of Abyei.
The United States supports the execution of all agreements reached today, and we stand with the Sudanese and South Sudanese people in pursuit of a lasting peace, Ms. Clinton underlined.
Earlier in August this year, Sudan and South Sudan have finally struck a deal on how to share their oil wealth.
Reports say the parties have agreed on all of the financial arrangements regarding oil.
The two countries were given August 2 deadline by the United Nations to solve disputes from border security to oil payments.
The oil impasse between two countrieshas lasted more than six months.
Earlier this June, Sudan and South Sudan have made significant progress to end hostilities.
The forces of South Sudan have completely pulled out of Abyei, that the forces of Khartoum, the SAF forces are also now out of Abyei.
In addition, South Sudan has recently completed withdrawal processes of its police forces from the disputed Abyei to comply with the United Nations Security Council resolution endorsing roadmap of the Africa Union Peace and Security Commission.
South Sudan reportedly complied with all aspects of resolution 2046, which calls on both sides to resume negotiations on post-partition issues and signed pact with three months.
The United States of America also welcomed the redeployment of all Republic of South Sudan Police Services out of the Abyei Area.
The US said the withdrawal of police forces in Abyei is an important step toward ending the border dispute with Sudan.
The United States has commended the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei for its strong support to this process.
The United States renewed call upon the Government of Sudan to honor its acceptance of UNSCR 2046 and the AUPSC communique, including by redeploying all of its armed forces from Abyei and by immediately ending aerial bombardments in South Sudan, which are a clear violation of Resolution 2046.
Amid the continous call from the United Nations and the United States to cease the hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan, violence and tensions continue to escalate in the region earlier this year.
South Sudan’s military was involved in the attack on and seizure of Heglig, home to Sudan’s largest remaining source of oil following the South’s secession.
Late of March this year, military clashes have erupted in the border region of Sudan and South Sudan.
Media reports say South Sudan accused Sudan of sending warplanes to bomb two border areas.
Meanwhile, Sudan accused the southern army of attacking the oil-producing Heglig region wherein parts of which are claimed by both warring nations.
The military clashes prompted Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir to suspend plans to attend a meeting with his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir on 3 April.
In July 2011, South Sudan, Africa’s 54th nation was born. Millions of people celebrated a new national identity and new national promise. For more than two decades, Sudan has been riven by intense fighting over land and resources.
However, the security situation in the disputed area of Abyei remains fragile, with both South Sudan and Sudan failing to withdraw their armed forces as agreed under a demilitarization pact reached in June 2011.
South Sudan became independent from Sudan on 9 July. A referendum on the status of the Abyei area on the border was to have been held in January this year, but never took place amid disagreement on voter eligibility.
Dozens of people have been killed this year as a result of clashes in Abyei and surrounding areas and tens of thousands of have been forced to flee their homes.
