Sudan and South Sudan hold oil talks

A Juba ministerial delegation Wednesday started talks on oil with their Sudanese counterparts in Khartoum.

The officials were expected to discuss the pending bilateral trade issues, including the opening of their common borders.

The South Sudan delegation includes the Oil, Finance and Trade and Investment ministers.

Presidential advisor and the head of the South Sudan delegation, Mr Tot Galwak, told the press in Khartoum upon their arrival on Tuesday that the two countries would sign a number of bilateral agreements to resolve their pending issues.

The Civil War

He added that the agreements would focus on the maintenance of the oilfields affected by the civil war in South Sudan, and the increase of the exports through the Sudanese territories.

“We have this joint meeting today between the ministers of the economic sectors in the two countries and we expect that tomorrow we will reach a lasting agreement on all the pending issues,” said Mr Galwak.

Sudanese Investment minister Mubarak Alfadil said the two sides had agreed on the bilateral trade and oil issues, adding that their technical teams were finalising an oil deal.

The Secession

In December 2016, Khartoum and Juba extended an oil transit agreement for another three years.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in January 2016 ordered a review of the transit fees levied on the South Sudan oil exports, following the sharp decline in the international prices.

Sudan lost an estimated 75 per cent of its oil revenues after the secession South Sudan in 2011.