SudaneseOnline: سودانيزاونلاين

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 23, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 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.

 

SOURCE

African Union Commission (AUC)