Sudan, South Sudan agree to extend flow of oil

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir agreed with his South Sudanese counterpart Silva Kiir to extend a deadline to allow the flow of oil from South Sudan until September 6 in a move following mediation by the African Union to keep crude exports flowing, the Sudanese state news agency said. Sudan's Minister of Oil Awad al-Gas said in a press release that the move aimed to prove the wish of both countries to complete the deals agreed upon. He added that the agreement would be extended if South Sudan's government showed commitment to those deals, referring to a security agreement. Sudan, the sole conduit for South Sudan's oil exports, last month extended an August 7 deadline two extra weeks. Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting anti-Khartoum rebels operating across their border. South Sudan denies the claims. The African Union has stepped up efforts to prevent the production shutdown, starting an investigation of the Sudanese allegations. South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in 2011, relies heavily on oil exports for its economy and the shutdown could have serious economic and political implications.