The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 308th meeting held on 16 January 2012, was updated on the status of negotiations and briefed on the upcoming negotiations, starting on 17 January 2012, in Addis Ababa, between Sudan and South Sudan, under the auspices of the AU High‐Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP).
Council recalled its earlier CommuniquéPSC/PR/COMM./(CCCI)on the situation in Darfur and the activities of the AUHIP, adopted at its 301 st meeting held on 30 November 2011.
Council noted with satisfaction the progress made on some of the outstanding issues, particularly border demarcation. At the same time, Councilexpresseddeep concern with the lack of progress in addressing the core issues affecting relations between the two States, namelynationality, border security, Abyei, oil and humanitarian access. Accordingly, Council urged both Sudan and South Sudan to faithfully engage in the negotiation process, in line with the agreed principle of two viable states, at peace with, and mutually supportive of, one another. Furthermore, Council stressed the primary responsibility of the leadership of Sudan and South Sudan to promptly resolve the outstanding issuesfor the benefit of their people, both countries and regional peace and security.
Council commended the AUHIP for its sustained commitment in facilitating negotiations between the two parties on the outstanding issues in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and resolution of post‐secession issues, and called on the AU partners,as well as onthe international community at large,to continue supporting the efforts of the AUHIP.
Council agreed to meet, again, to review the situation in the light of the outcome of negotiations, starting on 17 January 2012, in Addis Ababa.