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Minister of State Pieper welcomes launch of peace negotiations between the Sudan and South Sudan in Addis Ababa
In view of the launch of peace negotiations between the Sudan and South Sudan in Addis Ababa on 29 May, Minister of State Cornelia Pieper made the following statement today (31 May):
The fact that negotiations have been commenced by the Sudan and South Sudan in Addis Ababa is a good sign. I call on both sides to pursue these negotiations constructively and with an unwavering determination to bring about peace. The withdrawal of Sudanese and South Sudanese forces from Abyei is an important first step that needs to be followed by others. In particular, humanitarian access to the Nuba Mountains must now be granted. The fighting there needs to cease immediately. Both sides must work towards a peaceful solution.
On 12 April, the United Nations Security Council called on both sides to end all fighting and return to the negotiating table, after violence had broken out between Sudanese and South Sudanese forces over oil production facilities in Heglig in the Sudan.
The Security Council in particular urged the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan to end their support to proxies in the other country and to redeploy their security forces immediately from the Abyei Area. South Sudan did so on 14 May, while the Sudan withdrew its forces from Abyei on 30 May.