Sudan lifts threat to block S.Sudan oil

 Sudan lifted a threat to blockoil exports from its old enemy South Sudan, as the leaders ofthe African neighbours met on Tuesday and promised to end theirfestering conflicts.

The countries have fought over disputed territory andaccused each other of fuelling rebellions in their territoriessince the South declared independence from Sudan in 2011.

Under international pressure to reach a deal and booststability in a fractured region, South Sudan's President SalvaKiir and his Sudanese counterpart Omar Hassan al-Bashir held aone-day summit in Khartoum.

At the start of the meeting, Bashir and Kiir said they wouldhonour all the bilateral agreements they had already signed."The agreements we signed call for the transport of SouthSudan's oil through Sudan's facilities and ports," Bashir saidlater.

Sudan had earlier this year threatened to stop thelandlocked South shipping oil through its territory by Fridayunless Juba cut ties with rebels operating across their almost2,000-km (1,300-mile)-long shared border. South Sudan deniessupporting the insurgents.

A shutdown would have cut off South Sudan's main source ofgovernment income - and robbed Khartoum of the export fees itneeds to stabilise its economy reeling from the loss of mostcrude reserves with the southern secession.

The oil exports, mainly bound for Asia, had only resumed inApril after the South itself closed the pipelines for 16 monthsduring a dispute over those fees.

"A NEW PAGE"

Both countries have signed several agreements over recentyears to overcome their disputes, but the pacts have beenundermined by deep mutual distrust.

"We want to leave the problems of the past behind us andopen a new page for the benefit of the two people," Bashir toldjournalists. But he again said any Southern support of rebelswould have to stop.

Kiir also said he wanted a new chapter in bilateral ties andopen the joint border for trade, a move agreed in September butnot implemented by Sudan due to Juba's alleged rebel support.

"You closed the border. We didn't do that but we're ready toreopen it within 24 hours," Kiir said, during only his secondvisit to Sudan since the split. He again denied backing rebels.

Bashir and Kiir also signed an agreement to boostcooperation of business people from both countries.

South Sudan produces around 200,000 barrels a day, diplomatssay, less than the 300,000 bpd before the oil shutdown as ittakes time to restart hundreds of wells. Its oil fields aremainly operated by Chinese, Indian and Malaysian firms.

South Sudan seceded under the terms of a 2005 peace dealwith the Khartoum government that ended one of Africa's longestcivil wars. Around two million died in the decades-long conflictfuelled by religion, oil, ethnicity and ideology.
 

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