Juba declared that South Sudan will resume oil production in December, the government expected to sign the final agreement with Khartoum by 22nd of September which is the deadline set by the UN Security Council for both Sudan and South Sudan to reach a peace deal or at least the oil deal. According to media and agencies, the two sides have reached a transitional agreement on fees last month, but the final deal has not yet been signed. The official sources from both sides said the agreement covers three years and half a year but both of them did not publish the text of the agreement!

No clear answer for this confusion till now! Did they reach oil deal or not? How much is the transit fees? Is it 9 dollars PB or 25.8 dollars PB? What we have till now is just analysis saying that; it is 9+ because there is an amount of money as a compensation to Sudan (the mother country who lost its revenues), this amount is scheduled and linked with the oil deal, but what is the schedule of payment and where is the draft of this deal?! Nobody knows till now! Also, what are the general principles for security arrangements agreement which is the only guarantee for Khartoum acceptance for the oil deal?

Oil is very important for both economies of Sudan and South Sudan but security is the real challenge for the two countries. Last news was very bad; a group of rebels led by Commander David Yau Yau attacked the South Sudan Army (SPLA) in Pibor Province in South-western Jonnglei State. The Governor of the State, Kuol Manyang announced the new attacks by David's rebels in his office in Bor yesterday. Last week more than 40 soldiers from SPLA were killed and others were injured by an attack on the rebel militia group in Pibor Province.

Khartoum and Juba need a security arrangements agreement, it is not just a condition that has been imposed by Khartoum, and it is the only guarantee for both two sides to reach comprehensive and final peace.

Moreover, South Sudan's oil minister said on Thursday that Upper Nile oilfields may take up to half a year to resume production after. He declared also that getting crude flowing again from the Unity oilfields may take up to a year. The serious question is: what is the guarantee for oil deal if it takes year to be implemented? This situation needs joint SAF–SPLA forces along borders and in oilfields; security arrangements agreement is not enough at all.