AU urges Sudan, S. Sudan leaders to reach deal

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – The African Union urged the presidents of Sudan and South Sudan, who will meet here Sunday, to strike a deal on the issues they still have to settle following the independence of South Sudan in July 2011.

Outgoing Commission chief “Jean Ping, looks forward to the summit between President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and President Salva Kiir of South Sudan He would like to encourage both presidents… to reach agreement on the outstanding issues in the post-secession relations between their two countries,” the AU said.

The African Union has been mediating in the talks between the two Sudans in the Ethiopian capital. The talks resumed in early September and have focused on oil, border issues and the disputed Abyei area.

“Throughout its engagement, the AU… has maintained the view that solutions to the challenges at hand lie with the Sudanese people themselves,” the African Union statement said.

Sudan’s official news agency SUNA said Bashir would leave for the talks on Sunday and a government official in Juba confirmed that Kiir will also travel to Addis Ababa.

The European Union’s top diplomat Catherine Ashton welcomed news of the Addis Ababa meeting and urged “both governments to conclude a comprehensive agreement on all outstanding issues”.