African Union says Sudans reach oil deal

ADDIS ABABA – The African Union says Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to end a dispute about oil payments.

AU mediator and former South African President Thabo Mbeki said Saturday the two parties have reached an agreement on all financial matters regarding oil.

Mbeki did not provide details about when the production and export of southern oil would resume.

South Sudan had shut down oil production entirely in January in the disagreement with Sudan about how much Juba should pay Khartoum to export oil through northern pipelines.

The oil dispute had brought the countries to the brink of war.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in African on a 10-day tour, urged South Sudanese President Silva Kiir Friday to make progress in the negotiations between his country and its former rulers to the North.
 
Source: www.timesofearth.com / Agencies