The African union welcomes the outcome of the Summit meeting between Sudan and South Sudan

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, welcomes the outcome of the Summit meeting between President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir and President Salva Kiir Mayardit, held in Addis Ababa, on 4 and 5 January 2013, under the auspices of the Chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, and the Chairperson of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan and South Sudan, former President Thabo Mbeki.

The Chairperson of the Commission stresses the significance and importance of the steps agreed to during the Summit with respect to Abyei, the implementation of the landmark Agreements of 27 September 2012 and the borders, in the context of the efforts aimed at promoting confidence between Sudan and South Sudan and the broader vision of two viable States at peace with one another and working together on issues of common interest. She is confident that the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan will persevere in their efforts and continue to demonstrate the statesmanship and spirit of mutual cooperation that the situation so requires, in the interest of their two peoples and countries, the region and Africa as a whole.

The Chairperson of the Commission commends Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and former President Thabo Mbeki for their relentless efforts and outstanding commitment in discharging their mandate. She reaffirms AU's determination to continue assisting Sudan and South Sudan in whatever way possible in overcoming the challenges confronting them and in building brotherly and good-neighborly relations between their peoples and countries.