AFRICAN UNION URGES SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN TO REVERSE THEIR UNILATERAL ACTIONS
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PRESS RELEASE
AFRICAN UNION URGES SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN TO REVERSE THEIR UNILATERAL ACTIONS
Addis Ababa, 23 January 2012: The Chairperson of the Commission of the
African Union (AU), Dr. Jean Ping,is gravely concerned by developments
in South Sudan and Sudan. Unilateral steps by the two Governments have
brought the relationship between the two countries to the point of
breakdown, with the immediate danger of destroying the possibility of
achieving the agreed goal of two viable states, friendly and mutually
supportive.
The spirit that led to a peaceful referendum one year ago and the
amicable separation of South Sudan is fast vanishing. Against a
backdrop of the absence of an agreement between the two states, the
Government of Sudan recently began diverting oil originating from
South Sudan for domestic refining and for international sale. In the
last few days, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan has
initiated the shutdown of all oil production, in an accelerated manner
that risks serious damage to the oil pipeline to the north.
These reciprocal unilateral measures threaten grave damage to the
economic prospects of both countries and relations between them.
These actions have also taken place at a time when the AU High Level
Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan is convening negotiations on the
question of oil and transitional financial arrangements. The Panel
presented a draft proposal to the two parties two days ago, and is
revising and finalizing this proposal in line with the detailed
responses provided by the two negotiating teams. The AU is confident
that the differences between the parties can be bridged.Neighboring
African states and the international community, including the United
Nations, the United States and China, have expressed support for the
AUHIP proposal. These negotiations are continuing in Addis Ababa.
Seized by the urgency of the matter, under the chairmanship of
Ethiopian Prime Minister MelesZenawi, IGAD is convening an
Extraordinary Summit to support the work of the AUHIP.
The Chairperson of the Commissioncalls upon both Governments to halt
and reverse their unilateral actions with immediate effect. He calls
upon them to remain at the negotiating table and to agree on a final
settlement of all issues related to oil and transitional financial
arrangements. Such an agreement will be beneficial to the Governments
and citizens of South Sudan and Sudan and to the region,
NOTE TO THE EDITORS:
The AUHIP has worked for the last two years to facilitate negotiations
between the Government of Sudan/National Congress Party and the
Government of the Republic of South Sudan/Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement. These negotiations have included security issues, the common
border, economic relations (particularly oil and associated financial
arrangements), and citizenship.
The AUHIP has facilitated agreements on interim security and
administration for Abyei Area, the Joint Political and Security
Mechanism and monitoring and verification mechanisms for the common
border. It has convened several rounds of negotiation with the goal of
reaching agreement on transit fees for South Sudanese oil using the
pipeline to Port Sudan and transitional financial arrangements to help
bridge the budgetary gap in Sudan subsequent on the secession of South
Sudan. However, major issues remain unresolved, including the final
status of Abyei, five disputed areas along the common border, and
agreement on oil and transitional financial arrangements.
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