A Unity State oil company staff at one of the oil wells. [Gurtong| File]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 06 August 2012 [Gurtong]- Obama applauded the efforts of the international community for encouraging and supporting the two countries in finding solutions for the outstanding issues.
“I welcome the announcement by the African Union High-level implementation Panel of an agreement between Sudan and South Sudan on oil revenue,” said Obama in a press statement released on Sunday.
“This agreement opens the door to a future of greater prosperity for the people of both countries,” he added.
The US President also reiterated his government’s continuous support in ensuring a lasting peace for the people of south Sudan and Sudan.
He encouraged both countries to build a momentum created by the oil revenue agreement to resolve the other outstanding issues.
The two countries have been on the negotiation table under the auspices of the African Union for quite a while with no success.
But on Friday, the delegation teams of respective countries struck a deal that was confirmed by South Sudan’s Chief Negotiator Pagan Amum on Saturday.
Pagan however said his government will only implement the oil agreement after the two countries reach a comprehensive agreement on all the remaining outstanding issues on border, security, Abyei and citizenship.
South Sudan shut down her oil production early this year after accusing Sudan of stealing it and action that nearly brought the two countries on the edge of war.