South Sudan's Essential Oil Exports Allowed To Resume

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has agreed with Sudan’s de facto leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to resume vital oil exports from the landlocked country via its northern neighbours.

Sudan’s 17-month civil war has devastated South Sudan’s oil industry, on which the country’s economy depends.

After four months of work to repair the damaged infrastructure, oil could flow again.

But it remains to be seen whether the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which are fighting the army in Sudan, will allow the export, as they control most of the areas through which the oil must pass.

President Kiir and General Burhan discussed the resumption of exports during talks on Monday in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

During a joint press conference with his Sudanese counterpart, South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ramadan Abdalla Goc said the two leaders discussed “urgent issues affecting both countries,” focusing on improving regional peace and stability through “constructive dialogue and cooperation.”

Mr Goc said that General Burhan confirmed to President Kiir that Sudanese engineers have “completed” “the necessary technical preparations” for the resumption of oil production in South Sudan.

He said engineers from South Sudan are expected to visit Sudan in the coming weeks to assess the readiness of the facilities, after which the two countries will announce the official resumption of oil supplies.

According to think tank International Crisis Group, the civil war in neighboring Sudan has robbed South Sudan’s treasury of petrodollars, the government’s main source of income.

Mr Goc also said that during the talks, President Kiir had reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in Sudan.

Sudan’s acting Foreign Minister Hussein Awad said President Kiir and General Burhan have also agreed to reopen humanitarian corridors between their two countries to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Sudan.