S. Sudan’s Kiir, AU chief hold talks in Juba

January 19, 2012 (JUBA) – The Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Thomas Yayi Boni and South Sudan President, on Friday, held a closed-door meeting focusing on the new nation’s relations with neighboring Sudan.

The two leaders, according the government website, also discussed the fate of the disputed oil-producing region of Abyei, the incomplete north-south border demarcation, and other unresolved post-session issues between the two Sudans.

The talks between neighboring states of Sudan and South Sudan were on Saturday adjourned until mid-February after the two sides failed to forge an agreement on a wide array of security and border issues.

However, during his visit to Juba, the South Sudan capital, the AU chief, said it is vital for Sudan and South Sudan to coordinate their efforts towards achieving stability and prosperity, further urging both President Kiir and his Sudanese counterpart to resolve their remaining post-independence issues.

“South Sudan and Sudan are part of the African continent, we need peace and stability in these two sister countries”, Boni, also Benin’s President, said.

The visit of the AU chief is likely to bolster South Sudan’s effort in its latest attempt to rally support from African leaders ahead the forthcoming AU summit, which will see leaders vote on a proposal from the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on the status of Abyei.

South Sudan this week announced it had already secure backing on Abyei from the East African member countries, with its senior officials also visiting Nigeria, Lesotho and Kenya over the same issue.

(ST).