Story highlights
Sudan, South Sudan leaders plan to meet in Ethiopia on Friday
In September, they signed a deal to resume oil operations shut off after the nations split
The meeting will urge both leaders to implement the solutions
The presidents of the two Sudans meet Friday to address outstanding economic, oil and security issues after tensions between the two nations nearly led to a return to war.
Talks between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir will be held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
South Sudan split from Sudan in 2011 as part of a peace deal that ended decades of war between the two sides. The war left nearly 2 million people dead.
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Soon after the split, tensions between the old foes escalated over outstanding issues, coming close to an all-out war in April.
South Sudan shut off its oil supply last year, accusing Sudan of stealing oil revenue. The South got about 70% of the formerly united country’s reserves when it became independent last year.
Both countries have seen hyperinflation and a squeeze on incoming foreign currency as a result of the shutdown.
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In September, the leaders signed a deal to resume the nation’s oil operations, but failed to address other key disputes between the recently divorced countries.
In addition to a deal to restart oil exports from South Sudan, the two presidents agreed on a demilitarized zone and principles of border demarcation. However, they failed to reach a deal on the status of Abyei, a disputed oil-rich region claimed by both countries.
Neither country implemented the agreements from that meeting.
The United Nations said the meeting Friday will urge both leaders to apply solutions agreed upon in September.
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