Kenya, Sudan sign oil and mining pacts
Kenya and Sudan have signed agreements to deepen collaboration in oil and mining industry. Hence, Kenya is poised to gain from the agreements as Sudan has made strides in both sectors.
Sudan is an established oil exporting country and has also made progress in mineral business with the government owned Sudan Gold Refinery in Khartoum producing 80 tonnes of pure gold in the last one year.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Omar al-Bashir witnessed the signing of the two MoUs at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum.
The agreement on mining will enhance cooperation in the sector for mutual benefit. It also aims to strengthen cooperation in mineral research and exploration institutions. Further, it will boost Kenya’s mining industry through the exchange of expertise and training.
Earlier, President Kenyatta was taken on a tour of Khartoum Refinery Company, Sudan Gold Refinery and Cofftea Factory, which imports and does value addition of tea from Kenya. More than 70 per cent of the tea consumed in Sudan is produced in Kenya.
He said his visit was fruitful and expects mutual gain for both countries.
“We also engaged in discussions on regional matters and how our two countries which are stable nations can contribute to more stability in the region,” President Kenyatta said.
They discussed how to foster peace in South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, Central Africa Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On his part, President Bashir thanked Kenya for the role it played in hosting the Naivasha talks that led to a peaceful resolution of the war that raged in Sudan for more than two decades.
The resolution led to the birth of South Sudan. President Kenyatta was also briefed on the resolution of the conflict in Darfur, Sudan.
