Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The European Union has reiterated the need for an immediate solution to the stand still between Sudan and South Sudan following the oil shutdown on the 9th of June.

EU Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan, Rosalind Marsden, says both countries need to involve the international community to find a solution to the issue as soon as possible.

In a meeting with President Salva Kiir, at the state house in Juba on Wednesday, Ms. Marsden said, the implementation of the Addis Ababa agreement should be observed unconditionally.

“If there are problems in one area, then it’s important to try and use the existing mechanisms to address any grievances or complaints that either side may have on the issue,” said Ms. Marsden.

She added that “we feel that not to proceed by the implementation of the Addis agreement would really have disastrous consequences for the population for south Sudan and also Sudan.”

Last week, President Al-Bashir ordered a suspension of cooperation agreements between his government and the government of South Sudan including the oil and related economic matters agreements.