South Sudanese oil exports resumed Monday after an agreement between Sudan’s government and protesters who blocked pipelines in Port Sudan over the weekend, Sudanese officials said.
Protesters from the Beja tribes in eastern Sudan – demonstrating against what they say is a lack of political power and poor economic conditions in the region – have been blocking roads and forcing Red Sea ports to close in recent weeks.
Landlocked South Sudan's oil is shipped to global markets from Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
A government delegation headed by a member of the ruling Sovereign Council met tribal elders on Sunday and reached an agreement to allow oil exports from the Bashayer port, the council said.
“The joint meeting between the government delegation headed by General Shams al-Din Kabashi, a member of the sovereign council, and a delegation from the Beja council reached an agreement on allowing the passage of South Sudanese oil exports through the Bashayer port,” the ruling Sovereign Council said in a statement late Sunday.
The council did not disclose the terms of the deal – which came hours after senior government officials flew to Port Sudan, the Red Sea trade hub – or give further details.
The governmental delegation led by Kabashi included Oil Minister Gadein Ali Obeid, Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi and others.
They put forward proposals to eventually open all ports and roads leading to the city, which protesters began blocking early last week.
The Beja tribe elders tentatively agreed and said they would need a week to further discuss the initiatives, the statement said.