7/31/2019 VFS Briefing With South Sudan Minister of Cabinet Affairs

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VoicesforSudan1413 K Street N.W. #1000 Washington, DC 20005

Phone: (202)440-5392 Email: info@voicesforsudan.org

VoicesforSudan (VFS) is a national organization consisting of a cross section of all Sudanese groups residing in tUnited States. VFS closely follows developments in both South Sudan and Sudan, advocates for stability, peace an

development in the new South Sudan, and seeks to bring an end to the genocidal violence that rages in various regioof Sudan. Please visit VoicesForSudan.com for more information.

Dear Friends and Allies,

On May 3rd 2012 Voices for Sudan attended a briefing on Sudan and South Sudan at the Institute on Religion &Democracy. In attendance were Ministers of South Sudan including Deng Alor, the South Sudan Minister ofCabinet Affairs, and Pagan Amum, South Sudans Chief Negotiator. The briefing covered a summary of recentevents between North and South Sudan as well as an analysis of the international communities lack of action.

According to Pagan, the two parties could not reach an agreement on their oil relationship. There was adiscrepancy between amounts to pay per barrel resulting in a stalling of negotiations. South Sudan was willingto pay a transit fee of $0.69 per barrel to use Sudans oil pipelines. This was a generous sum compared to otherinternational oil agreements, according to Pagan. Sudan disagreed, however, and demanded a sum of $36.00 per

barrel. During December, January and February, Sudan kept all of the oil already sold for export by SouthSudan. This forced South Sudan to return funds received from the international oil market. South Sudan stoppedproduction of oil and discontinued paying the transit fees. As a result, Sudan began an aerial bombardment inFebruary followed by increased air and ground attacks in March.

Having explained the background, Pagan then addressed the issue of violence initiated by South Sudan overHeglig. According to him, South Sudan wishes to approach a nonviolent solution with Sudan, but the violenceperpetuated by Sudan must stop. The recent circumstances were summarized as stemming from:

1) The taking of oil2) Aerial bombing by Sudan3) Silence of the international community

A discussion of normalcy and abnormality emerged as a possible explanation for the international communitiesapathy. Pagan worried that Khartoum killing South Sudanese individuals had become normal in the eyes of theinternational community while South Sudans attempt to fight back and protect themselves was seen as

abnormal. This might explain why the actions of the North are met with impunity by the internationalcommunity while the actions of South Sudan in Heglig resulted in a great deal of attention.

In order to reach a state of peace, both sides must take responsibility for their part in the violence and theinternational community must break their streak of apathy. Hearing Pagans emphasis on peace, freedom anddemocracy for the future, the meeting ended with a tone of optimism.

Kelly KundratProgram DirectorVoices for Sudan