To foster stability and economic development in both countries and the wider region, leaders from Sudan and South Sudan must address several outstanding issues:

• Reach agreements on oil resources and other outstanding economic issues to facilitate the resumption of cross-border trade;
• Agree on and demarcate their borders;
• Define citizenship rights for Southern Sudanese resident in Sudan and northern Sudanese resident in the South;
• Resolve peacefully the status of the contested Abyei area.

The Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) must also commit to a process to end the conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and allow immediate and unconditional humanitarian access to those areas and populations affected by conflict.

Meanwhile, the international community and humanitarian donors must support the people of both Sudan and South Sudan to help build the conditions for long-lasting peace, good governance and development. The united international position – endorsed by the African Union and United Nations and calling for the resolution of all outstanding issues – must be implemented. Dialogue is the only way to ensure a peaceful future for the people of Sudan and South Sudan.

Peace in Sudan became a top priority for The Elders as soon as the group was founded. After visiting Sudan on their first mission together in 2007, The Elders have conducted private diplomacy and advocacy and spoken out at select moments.

Desmond Tutu and Lakhdar Brahimi visit Otasha IDP camp, Darfur, October 2007

Jimmy Carter and Lakhdar Brahimi returned to Sudan to meet President Omar al-Bashir, which paved the way for a second delegation to the region, led by Desmond Tutu, in July 2012. The Elders continue to monitor events in Sudan and South Sudan closely.

The Elders’ first mission

Desmond Tutu, Lakhdar Brahimi, Jimmy Carter and Graça Machel travelled to Sudan in October 2007 to highlight the humanitarian tragedy caused by the conflict in Darfur. This was the Elders’ first ever mission as a group. See photos from the visit.

In Khartoum and Juba, the Elders met political leaders from North and South Sudan, political party representatives, UN agencies, African Union officials and diplomats. In Darfur, they spoke to tribal leaders, women’s groups, civil society leaders and internally displaced persons. The Elders called for an end to the atrocities and the displacement of millions of people in Darfur, as well as for greater protection for the victims of ongoing violence.

Observing the referendum

In January 2011, Elders Jimmy Carter and Kofi Annan led the Carter Center observation mission for the Southern Sudan Referendum.

Supporting the African Union-led peace negotiations

In May 2012, Jimmy Carter and Lakhdar Brahimi returned to Sudan to meet President Omar al-Bashir. Concerned by the heightened and dangerous tensions in the region, they spoke in detail about the problems in Sudan and strongly encouraged a return to dialogue between Sudan and South Sudan.

This visit paved the way for a second Elders’ delegation to the region in July 2012. Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson and Martti Ahtisaari travelled to Addis Ababa, Juba and Khartoum to meet political leaders, African Union officials, UN diplomats and civil society representatives. They also visited a refugee camp in South Sudan, calling attention to the humanitarian crisis resulting from fighting across the border in Sudan.