Addis talks, the never-ending Mexican series!

Sudan and South Sudan missed the U.N. Security Council deadline to resume peace talks. It is very clear that both countries do not care about the consequences that could subject them to sanctions. In fact they and the international community know that the sanctions are not of the interests of both countries, yet they still insist on their stances and preconditions to resume talks heedless of the fact that they are both dependent on oil and are now facing a growing economic crisis because of the loss of oil revenues.

The two sides should admit the impact of the oil crisis on the economy of both countries because they are both witnessing sharply spiraling prices of food and fuel and collapse of  currencies.

The international community in general and the African Union in particular are continuing their efforts in pressuring both sides to return to talks to resolve their disputes over oil transit fees, their border and other issues. But it seems that there will be no progress on the ground and the matter has become like a never-ending Mexican series! Where we used to hear news along the lines of the African Union mediator is engaged in shuttle trips between Khartoum and Juba and the two governments promise him to return to the negotiations table, while there has not been a full resumption of discussions between the two sides and they actually do not want to take steps to settle their differences.

While the two countries are accusing each other of unwillingness to reach agreement on their key disputes, both sides bear a great amount of responsibility for creating the difficulties that could lead to humanitarian catastrophes for both of them as the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned in a report Tuesday that South Sudan could face destitution less than a year after its birth.

The office said the oil shutdown and budget austerity measures could push millions of South Sudanese into destitution, as fuel and food prices rose sharply, added to the pressure of 130,000 Sudanese refugees in South Sudan and other neighboring countries.

The report pointed out that a toxic combination of conflict and rising food and fuel prices, and severe cash shortages is having a devastating effect on the civilian population in both countries. With the rains on the way the situation could not be more critical.

In the news that the African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki is now in Khartoum and is expected to visit Juba tomorrow also to press both sides to return to talks and resolve the disputes over oil transit fees, border and the other outstanding issues, we hope that this time he will succeed to bring them back to the table.