Tut Gatluak Meets Al-Burhan to Discuss South Sudan Oil Exports Through Sudan

• South Sudan's presidential security adviser met with Sudan's army chief in Khartoum to discuss bilateral ties and oil cooperation.
• The meeting comes despite recent tensions over the disputed Abyei region, which has been a source of contention between the two countries.
• The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen their bilateral relations, promote regional peace and stability, and explore trade opportunities.
• South Sudan exports almost all of its crude oil through pipelines running across Sudan, while Sudan earns transit and processing fees that provide a significant source of revenue.

Gatluak said Kiir and Burhan remain committed to strengthening cooperation based on the longstanding ties between the neighbouring countries.

South Sudan's presidential security adviser, Tut Gatluak Manime, met with Sudan's army chief and head of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Khartoum on Wednesday to discuss bilateral ties, regional security, and oil cooperation. The meeting was a significant development given the recent tensions between the two countries over the disputed Abyei region. Gatluak conveyed a message from President Salva Kiir to Burhan, emphasizing the importance of peace and stability, economic cooperation, and South Sudan's oil exports through Sudan. The two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen their bilateral relations, promote regional peace and stability, and explore trade opportunities.

The meeting between Gatluak and Burhan comes at a time when the two countries are engaged in a dispute over the Abyei region. Earlier this month, Sudan objected to South Sudan's electoral authorities including Abyei among constituencies for the country's planned December 2026 general election, citing previous agreements and the unresolved status of the territory. However, Juba maintains that its decision is consistent with its legal framework and aims to allow Abyei residents to participate in the vote. The dispute highlights the complexities of the relationship between the two countries, which are economically interdependent despite their differences. South Sudan exports almost all of its crude oil through pipelines running across Sudan to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, while Sudan earns transit and processing fees that provide a significant source of revenue.

The meeting between Gatluak and Burhan is a crucial development in the ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between South Sudan and Sudan. The two countries' economic interdependence makes it essential for them to resolve their differences and maintain stability in the region. Lawyers advising clients with South Sudanese interests should be aware of the potential disruptions to oil exports and revenue streams due to ongoing tensions between the two countries. The dispute over Abyei also highlights the need for a lasting solution to the territory's status, which has been a source of tension between the two countries for years.

Lawyers advising clients with South Sudanese interests should watch for potential disruptions to oil exports and revenue streams due to ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Source: Original reporting via [Source]