The Abyei issue will be among the topics to be discussed by the presidents of South Sudan and Sudan during their Tuesday summit in Juba.
Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told CRN in an interview over the phone that Salva Kiir Mayardit and Omar Al Bashir will continue talks on the cooperation agreements and Abyei to improve relations between the two countries.
Asked if the community referendum taking place in Abyei would affect the talks between the two presidents, Dr Marial said that the African Union does not allow a unilateral decision on the referendum.
He added that the referendum has to be okayed by both South Sudan and Sudan to be binding and endorsed by the UN Security Council.
The Foreign Minister added that South Sudan is bound by the cooperation agreements and cannot support a unilateral referendum.
Dr Marial said he understood the decision taken by the Abyei community because they suffered a lot.
He added that both the AU and Sudan should listen to the Abyei community and agree on a date for the referendum on self-determination to go ahead.