Experts considered the matrix signed by Sudan and South Sudan on Friday a new beginning for relations between the two countries.

 

The matrix states that a timeframe be formed to implement the security arrangements and begin withdrawal from the buffer areas whose limits are 10 kilometers each on both sides of the Sudanese South Sudanese border.

 

Speaker of the States Assembly Professor Ismail Al-Haj Musa said the agreement represents a glimpse of hope for a new beginning in relations between the two countries.

This step, he added, removes the doubts SPLM instilled in the minds of citizens and officials in Sudan considering that SPLM has repeatedly proved its lack of seriousness in implementing the agreements signed by both countries.

He continued: "This stage is important and decisive, the two countries must commit to what has been agreed upon to end a period of fighting that harmed both countries and depleted their resources."

Political analyst Mekki Elmograbi thinks this agreement calls for optimism that a long-wound dispute between the two countries will finally end.

He went on to say: "The matrix devised to set a timeframe for implementing the agreements is precise and well-structured, a thing which promises an easy implementation of the whole matrix."

Elmograbi said that the step taken by Salva Kiir to sign the matrix and accept all that is in it, including the buffer area and Mile 14 area, is considered a new beginning for peace between the two countries.

"The decision in itself is a right one and came at an important time. But South Sudan has to work more seriously towards implement the other agreements pertaining to the dialogue with SPLM-N and disintegrating the militias operating from inside the borders of South Sudan and the SPLM-N leaders must cooperate with the government of South Sudan and turn over their weapons to finalize this dossier once and for all."

Security expert Hassan Bayoumi said the signing of the agreement is an important step following the intensified domestic and international pressures on the governments of both countries. Moderate solutions, he added, cannot be reached unless the disputes between the two countries are resolved; especially the security disputes which, if resolved, can pave the way for building trust between the two sides.

The Sudanese government was unnecessarily lenient in the past regarding many of the points which it was not required to show leniency about, but it realized this mistake in hindsight. He affirmed that following the agreement on security arrangements, the implementation of agreements regarding the other dossiers became easier than ever before considering these dossiers did not in essence spark a lot of disagreement and are almost resolved.

Flexibility, he said, showed by both sides regarding this matrix constitutes a new beginning and great awareness of the importance of wrapping up differences to turn a new page in the two neighboring countries' relations.

Political analyst Dr. Bukhari Algaali thinks this agreement brings nothing new to the table except the fact that it sets the atmosphere for implementing the previous agreements signed by presidents of both countries on September 27th last year. Determining the buffer zone and a date for withdrawal from it, he added, clears the air between the two countries regarding issues that sparked disputes between them in the past, a thing that represents an implied admission that the buffer area south of Bahr Alarab belongs to Sudan.

"Sudan benefits a lot from this agreement considering it admits that an important area belongs to it and was shoved into the negotiations unnecessarily earlier. This, too, confirms the importance of this agreement which dealt with details that were previously ignored."

Resolving the security dossier is the end of the problem.

Economist Hafiz Ismail said resolving the security dossier represents an end to the problem between the two countries considering the other dossiers did not raise a lot of disputes. According to this matrix, South Sudan can resume exporting its oil through Sudan and Sudanese pipelines on the set date. This confirms, he continued, that both countries might be able to end the disputes which constituted a frank threat to the entire region.

Hafiz said implementing the oil agreement will immensely contribute to solving the economic problems of both countries bit it will not be the final solution for them. He demanded the two countries to expedite the implementation of the other agreements to benefit the citizens of both countries.

Economist Adil Abdulaziz said implementing the security agreement according to the matrix will subsequently lead to an influx of foreign currency which will in turn lead to decreasing the exchange rate of foreign currency and consequently a drop in prices of consumer goods. This in turn will lead to minimizing inflation to an acceptable degree. Economic stability, he affirmed, will lead to encouraging domestic and foreign investment in Sudan.

Economist Sayed Zakki thinks that the implementation of the matrix leads implementing the cooperation agreement; explaining that pumping oil will diminish the number of economic problems and raise the value of the Sudanese Pound against the US Dollar leading to the stabilization of exchange rates and decreasing inflation. He demanded both countries to follow wise policies in implementing the agreement to realize economic balance which can result in enhancing the economies of both countries.

By Hana Abdul Hai,