South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir/FILE
“It would not be fair to my people to support an agreement that invites more conflict by failing to resolve underlying issues,” Kiir told reporters.
“An agreement that we would consider signing should not only focus on the oil crisis, but be comprehensive to cover all the outstanding issues,” he added.
South Sudan in January took the extreme step of shutting down oil production — the fledgling nation’s top revenue source — as it accused rival north Sudan over an oil dispute and African Union-mediated talks remain stalled.
Kiir said he had rejected an offer made last week because it failed to address the future of the contested Abyei region, a Lebanon-size region claimed by both sides but occupied by Khartoum.
“The (proposed) agreement would guarantee future — and possibly immediate — conflict over land, people and oil,” Kiir said.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Sunday that tensions and a furious row over oil between the former enemies has become a major threat to regional peace and security.
Juba rejected a draft agreement proposing the oil-rich but grossly underdeveloped South gave Khartoum $5.4 billion (4.1 billion euros), to be paid by Sudan’s taking of 35,000 barrels of oil per day.
“It is difficult for me to accept a deal that leaves our people vulnerable, dependent and paying billions that they do not owe,” Kiir said, adding that Juba wanted to ensure the fledgling nation’s economic independence.
“We reject that assumption that mutual dependency of our two nations is the path to peace. It is not. Dependency only brought us continued confrontation and human suffering. This cycle must be broken.”
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