AU Gives Sudan, South Sudan 3 Months To Settle Row

Published: Apr 24, 2012

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP)--The African Union has given Sudan and South Sudan three months to reach a peace deal or face "appropriate measures," an AU official said Tuesday.

The AU's security organ urged both sides to reach a deal within three months on oil and citizenship issues, end fighting in Abyei and agree on a demarcated border, security commissioner Ramtane Lamamra told reporters.

He said the peace and security council "urges the parties to resume negotiations...under the auspices of AU within two weeks."

"Failure by each party to implement the provisions of the roadmap outlined above or to cooperate in good faith with the (AU) panel...will result in council taking appropriate measures."

The AU security body adopted a roadmap after Tuesday's meeting calling for "the immediate cessation of all hostilities, including aerial bombardments, with the parties formally conveying their commitment in this respect to the chairperson of the Commission with 48 hours," Lamamra said.

The roadmap also urged both sides to withdraw troops from the other's territory, stop supporting rebel groups and refrain from making "inflammatory" public statements.

Violent clashes erupted along the oil-rich disputed border in recent weeks, sparking fears of a return to all-out war between the two nations.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires