Sudan and South Sudan forge security deal to safeguard oil flow

September 16, 2024 (JUBA) — Sudan and South Sudan unveiled a joint security plan on Saturday aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted flow of oil to international markets, a crucial lifeline for both nations’ economies.

The decision to establish the security plan was reached during a meeting between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and the leader of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Juba.

“This visit of the president of the transitional sovereign council of Sudan and his accompanying delegation has come at a time when the two countries have important issues requiring close cooperation and coordination,” said Ramadan Mohamed Abdallah Goc, South Sudan’s foreign minister.

Sudan and South Sudan share a complex history. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of conflict. While Sudan and Uganda are guarantors of the 2018 peace agreement that ended South Sudan’s civil war, the ongoing conflict in Sudan has complicated its role in the peace process.

The war in Sudan, which erupted in 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has disrupted oil production and exports. South Sudan’s oil is transported via a pipeline through Sudan to a terminal on the Red Sea. A March 16 letter from Sudan’s minister of petroleum declared force majeure on oil deliveries through the pipeline.

“The leaders have agreed to have a joint plan to protect the oil because we have been informed of the completion of technical work on the side of Sudan,” Mr. Goc said. “Sudanese engineers have accomplished the necessary technical preparations for the resumption of oil production.”

Goc added that engineers from South Sudan would visit Sudan in the coming weeks to assess the progress made.

The meeting between the two leaders also addressed broader security concerns, including cross-border crime, and the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

In a statement broadcast on South Sudanese state television, General al-Burhan acknowledged President Kiir’s commitment to peace and stability, expressing appreciation for his regional initiatives to promote stability and economic growth.

The joint security plan represents a significant step towards stabilizing the oil sector, which is vital to the economic recovery of both Sudan and South Sudan.