South Sudan to offer north “package” for oil transit

By Julius N. Uma

November 18, 2011 (JUBA) – South Sudan has proposed to offer north Sudan a “package” to resolve the deadlock in the ongoing post-independence negotiations on southern oil transportation, a senior member of the ruling party said Friday.

Pagan Amum Okiech, the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said the decision is part of the proposal they plan to present to the African Union (AU) High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan chaired by former South African president, Thabo Mbeki.

Speaking to the press on Friday, the head of South Sudan negotiating team on the post-independence arrangements reiterated in a conciliatory tone, GOSS’s commitment to reach a deal with Khartoum on all the contentious issues including Abyei, border demarcation, national debt, oil transit fees and border trade.

“The SPLM and the government of South Sudan have decided to offer financial transitional assistance to the north as a way of resolving the obstacles on oil transportation. This decision is contained in a proposal to be submitted to the AU implementation panel,” Amum told journalists in Juba.

He however declined to disclose how much the south was willing to offer to its neighbour, saying the final decision will be reached at the end of next week’s meeting between the AUHIP and South Sudan’s negotiation team.

El-Obeid Marawah, the spokesperson of the foreign ministry, this week denied that his government refused to resume talks in Addis Ababa over a set of proposals submitted by the African mediator

He however said they are awaiting the arrival of the African Union mediator Mbeki on Saturday 19 November to discuss a number of issues related to the oil transportation and border trade besides other financial items.

The head of the African panel is also expected in Juba, the South Sudan’s capital on Sunday.

Amum said the south will continue engaging its northern neighbour on the outstanding issues, which he said are vital for the stability of the former after its independence in July.

“The Republic of South Sudan is willing to help Sudan in efforts to address its economic crisis resulting from separation,” said the SPLM Secretary General, while reiterating the importance of good relations between the two nations.

Pagan Amum last month renewed his proposal that Khartoum relinquishes its claim on the contested Abyei and in exchange Juba will offer financial to the north which is struggling economically ever since the oil-rich south seceded.

But Khartoum quickly rejected the idea. The NCP spokesperson said that Abyei belongs to the north and that it is not up for sale or compromise. He added that there is no room for retreat from the fact that it is part of Sudan.

Pagan strongly dismissed reports that the southern government allegedly confiscated shares of one of its state-owned companies, Sudapet and transferred it to Nilepet, owned by South Sudan.

Meanwhile, Amum also strongly condemned recent attacks by northern forces on civilian bases in South Sudan, and urged the population to stand firm in protecting their territories against any form of external aggression.

The north has been largely blamed for series of attacks in Unity and Upper Nile states, which have killed dozens and injured many. The northern government has repeatedly denied involvement.

(ST)