Sudan and South Sudan have signed a comprehensive bilateral agreement to safeguard vital oil infrastructure and strengthen economic cooperation, marking a significant step toward regional stability and energy security. The accord was announced following three days of intensive negotiations in Port Sudan during a high-level visit by South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Semaya Kumba.
The agreement commits both nations to protecting critical oil pipelines, main pumping stations, and oil facilities that transport South Sudanese crude to the Red Sea. Officials emphasized the pipeline’s importance as a vital economic lifeline, with South Sudan heavily dependent on oil exports for revenue while Sudan benefits from lucrative transit fees collected from the flow of crude to international markets. The pact outlines comprehensive measures to boost production, develop technical expertise, and secure energy infrastructure across the region. It also includes provisions for counterterrorism collaboration, intelligence sharing, and coordinated border security operations to combat armed groups and smuggling networks along the shared frontier.
“This is a diplomatically substantial engagement, particularly given the severe internal pressures both governments are facing,” said Sudanese political analyst Hatim Ayoub Abu El Hassan in an interview with Radio Tamazuj. “The talks appear to be an effort to address long-standing friction points and create a more predictable framework for cooperation.”
During her visit, Minister Kumba met with Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, and other senior officials. Discussions focused on reviving bilateral trade and investment, which had been disrupted by Sudan’s ongoing conflict earlier this year. As part of the renewed cooperation framework, the two countries agreed to establish a Joint Economic Committee to promote collaboration in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure. Plans for a free trade zone in Port Sudan were also proposed, potentially opening new avenues for regional commerce. Analysts view the agreement as a pragmatic step toward restoring trust and safeguarding the shared economic interests of both nations amid regional instability.
Source: pipeline-journal.net