Sudan, South Sudan revisit 2012 cooperation agreement

JUBA — South Sudan and Sudan revisited the fraught cooperation agreement which the two countries failed to implement for the last 10 years.

The cooperation was signed in September 2012 between Sudan and South Sudan.

The agreement address issues of cross-border trade, movement, residence, property ownership, and work.

Both countries agreed on post-referendum relations which tackle the status of nationals of both countries.

The deal also settled the payment of post-service benefits for South Sudanese nationals who previously worked under one Sudan.

Both countries agreed to allow their citizens to travel freely across common borders, settle, work, and own properties.

But the deal collapsed shortly after the outbreak of conflict over an oil-rich area of Heglij also known as Panthou and the disputed area of Abyei in 2012.

Speaking to reporters after a regular cabinet meeting in Juba on Friday, Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth said Minister of Public Service and Human Resource, Joeseph Bangasi Bakasoro presented the cooperation agreement before the cabinet.

“The minister informs us about MoU which they sign between The Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan which was a follow up of cooperation agreement which was signed in 2012,” Makuei said.

Makuei said the new agreement will address issues of pensions and benefits for employees who worked in Sudan.

“This was something to do with pensions and benefits of employees who were in Sudan by then and who are South Sudanese and those who were in South and are now Sudanese,” Makuei said.

Makuei disclosed that the cabinet directed minister Bakasoro to continue the discussion and implementation of the deal.

“All these were discussed and they signed an MoU to that effect and so the MoU was approved and the minister was directed to continue the discussion with the Sudan government on the operationalization of this MoU.”