Sudan, South Sudan presidents continue crisis talks on border deal
Sudanese soldiers pose next to seized mortar rounds from the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) of South Sudan in the oil region of Heglig on April 23, 2012. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said during his visit to Heglig that there will be no more talks with South Sudan after weeks of border fighting in contested regions and tension between the two states.
The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan are meeting for a second day to discuss a border deal, and the resumption of oil exports, after a UN Security Council deadline was unofficially extended, France 24 reported.
The African Union-mediated talks, in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, continued late into the evening Sunday without a breakthrough.
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While delegations from the two sides have been discussing the issue since the beginning of the month, Sunday marked the first time Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir has met his southern counterpart, Salva Kiir, in more than a year.
According to Agence France Presse, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who is hosting the talks, was seen headed into the presidential palace this morning, along with AU chief mediator Thabo Mbeki.
The United Nations Security Council has threatened sanctions if this latest round of negotiations do not produce a border security deal, but no action appeared to be taken after its deadline was not met over the weekend.
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The BBC reported that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging Sudan to accept an African Union border plan that's already been agreed by South Sudan. However, Sudan has objected to a demilitarized border zone running through a 14-mile long strip of grazing land.
Last month, the Sudans reached an interim deal to restart southern oil exports through Sudan to the Red Sea ports.