Bashir, Kiir meet in Juba but fail to strike deal on Abyei
Following three-hour-closed-door talks, the two leaders agreed on ten points, including pushing ahead with plans to create a demilitarised border zone between the nations and improving the passage of people and goods.
They reached no concrete agreement on the Abyei region, the war-torn border area which remains a thorn in the side of relations between the two long-standing foes.
We pledge to work hand-in-hand to remove all the obstacles […] and resolve all issues including Abyei and others.”
We pledge to work hand-in-hand to remove all the obstacles […] and resolve all issues including Abyei and others,” Bashir said shortly after the communiqué was signed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries.
It was Bashir’s second visit to South Sudan since it became a country in its own right in 2011 following a bitter two-decade long civil war.
Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on genocide charges, arrived in Juba with over fifty delegates. The two men embraced and Bashir referred to Kiir as brother”.
Their rapport was underscored by Bashir’s remarks that he loves Juba” and that our problems are in the past”.
In a similar vein, Kiir said Sudanese aid for South Sudanese flood victims was the work of an elder brother” who left but still cares. The South Sudanese Government spokesman Michael Makuei said the meeting underscores a strong political will by the two leaders”.
Notably, the leaders did not achieve progress on the conflictive Abyei region, despite calls from the African Union (AU) that they seize this opportunity.
Last year, the AU mediation team proposed holding a referendum in Abyei this month (October 2013) to decide whether it will join Sudan or South Sudan.
However, those plans have been postponed amid a clash between the two countries over who is entitled to vote.
Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit at Juba International Airport, October 22.
Abyei residents from the Ngok Dinka group have announced they want to press ahead with the ballot regardless of any bi-lateral deal between the two nations, a move which may fuel tensions in the volatile region.
Kiir described Abyei as the most critical” topic under discussion but they only agree to fast track the creation of an Abyei Administration, which will receive two percent of the region’s oil revenues. No announcement was made on the controversial ballot issue.
The Juba Presidential summit followed a similar one in Khartoum last month which was hailed as opening the door for cooperation between the two nations.
Observers hope a better relationship between the long-standing rivals will enable them to avoid further arguments over oil, which already sparked an economically crippling South-Sudanese oil shutdown.
The ten points agreed in Juba focus on implementing a deal mediated by the African Union and signed last September, many aspects of which are yet to materialise.
[...] A very good gesture, it is positive but needs to be nurtured.”
Lorna Elia who works for the South Sudanese civil society group Voice For Change (VFC) was cautious in her response to the agreement as a very good gesture, it is positive but needs to be nurtured”.
Speaking to The Niles, she pointed out that the two nations have failed to comply with previous pledges: I am moved that they reached these important agreements but whether they will be implemented or not it is another question,” she said. But let’s be optimistic that this time it will be different and it will be accomplished.”
