President Bashir, Salva Kiir hold talks

Official talks commenced here on Friday between President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir for the first time since the independence of South Sudan in 2011. The two leaders discussed ties of joint cooperation , issues of mutual concern and horizons of future peace between the two countries. During the one-day visit, borth al bashir and Kiir are expected to discuss as well the looming territorial disputes and border demarcations. Also on the agenda is a recent deal on how much the South should pay for exporting its oil through Sudan. President Al Bashir arrived in South Sudan earlier today for the first time since his 2011 visit for the country’s independence celebrations. Bashir’s visit “will be good for the future of the two countries,” South Sudanese Information minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said before Bashir’s plane touched down. “There should be peace between the two countries,” he said A military band played the two national anthems as Bashir was welcomed by Kiir at the airport in the Southern Capital, Juba. The South Sudanese Information Minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, believes that if the two countries reach an understanding, it would be beneficial to them both. The two countries came to the brink of war in 2012 over unresolved disputes following South Sudan’s secession. However, there has been an easing of tension since they agreed to resume pumping oil last month. Oil started flowing again in the month of April after both sides struck a deal in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in March. A demilitarised buffer zone is to be set up, with the intention of improving security.