The 19th African Union Summit (15-16 July 2012) has denounced the Sudan-South Sudan conflict and other hot spots in the continent.
AU Commission chairman Jean Ping said such conflicts, ‘are no longer acceptable.’
Its hence during the same summit that leaders of Sudan and South Sudan, met and held talks for the first time on Saturday since the two states went into a deadly border war which left several people dead and forced thousands to flee.
“The two presidents have agreed and instructed their negotiating teams to expedite negotiations and develop bold decisions in key areas as well as to reach agreements in all issues,” South Sudan chief negotiator Pagan Amum told reporters after the private encounter.
“It was a good meeting,” he further told reporters who gathered outside the meeting room where they met at the Sheraton on Saturday evening.
The two presidents participated at a meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) chaired by the Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara.
Bashir and Kiir joined the meeting room one after another finding themselves in the same room for the first time since last Mars.
During the AUSPC meeting the two presidents emphasised in their speeches on their respective concerns.
Bashir underscored the security concern and the need to speed up the operationalization of the buffer zone saying there was no reason to contest Sudan’s current border because it served to give South Sudan its independence.
Kiir on the other side focused on the issue of oil transportation saying Juba wants clear commitment to not divert South Sudan production, and asked for international guarantees. He also stressed on the need to reach a quick solution over Abyei issue.
The delegation of the two countries have already agreed earlier this month to hold talks on all the outstanding issues as Juba reassured Khartoum on the implementation of the demilitarized zone and the presence of Darfur rebels in South Sudan.
The Sudanese delegation also agreed with the mediation on the resumption of talks with the SPLM-North rebels over South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
The chief negotiator also pointed out that the two parties have an opportunity to conclude a “fair deal” and to end hostilities.
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