A top US official has urged the Government of South Sudan to reach an interim oil agreement with the Sudan on production and transportation while a long-term settlement is negotiated.
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said in a news conference today in Juba after meeting President Salva Kiir Mayardit that her country believes that an interim oil agreement will bring the flow of revenue to South Sudan.She added that it will give the country the resources needed to re-launch the economy while looking for long term alternatives, including a new pipeline.
Ms Clinton said South Sudan had the right to make a strong point with the oil production shutdown.
She added that since Sudan is back at the negotiating table it was important that South Sudan resumed oil production while a permanent agreement and other oil export options were consolidated.
Ms Clinton said the new pipeline will take a long time to build and South Sudanese people need revenue.
She added that the US administration wanted to assist South Sudan’s agriculture with loans, seeds and technology to diversity the economy and transform the country into one of the breadbasket’s of the world.