Pretoria - With one year having passed since the official declaration of South Sudan's separation from north Sudan, the two countries so far seem to have failed to establish good neighbourly relations.
Despite confirmation by the politicians of both sides to establish relations, the development of events proved that the historical differences between the two sides were deeper than they appeared.
The outstanding issues, including the sharing of revenues of oil, which is produced in the South and exported via north Sudan's oil infrastructures and ports, were among the most prominent differences that prevented the establishment of normal ties between Khartoum and Juba.
The oil dispute reached its peak when South Sudan decided on January 20 this year to stop pumping its crude oil due to difference over the fees of exporting the South's oil through the Sudanese ports.
The decision resulted in negative consequences on the economies of both countries, as Sudan had lost three quarters of its oil revenues, which pushed the Sudanese government to adopt far-reaching economic reform, but caused a rise in prices of basic commodities and prompted demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the citizens of South Sudan are suffering from tragic conditions due to lack of development and basic services together with high prices of basic commodities.
Additionally, the two countries almost slid into a comprehensive war when South Sudan's army occupied Sudan's oil-rich area of Heglig on April 10 this year.
According to observers and analysts, the relationship between Khartoum and Juba would not return to its normal track unless the security and oil issues are resolved.
Sudanese expert Mohamed Hassan Saeed says the events which followed the separation of South Sudan have proved that the security issue is still a major threat to the stability of relations between the two countries. Besides, the oil dispute adds further tension to the relationship.
"Full normalisation in the relations between Khartoum and Juba cannot be achieved without exploring a settlement for security issues between the two countries.
"The standing issues at the Blue Nile and South Kordofan areas as well as Abyei should be resolved first and then the two sides can search for an agreement to restore pumping of the South's oil through Sudan to meet the demands of the two country's peoples," he said.
Saeed went on saying: "Definitely, the current disputes are the outcome of the separation because both countries are facing difficulty in adapting to the new situation. The South is suffering from difficulties of building a state from nothing under chronic tribal conflicts, scarcity of resources and lack of infrastructures, while Sudan is suffering from economic, security and political issues."
Abdul-Azeem Ahmed, a Sudanese political analyst, for his part, believed that the two countries have no choice but to work to establish constructive relations based on common interests and mutual benefits.
"Whatever the differences are, they will eventually resort to favouring cooperation and normalisation of relations because that is the most realistic option," he told Xinhua.
He added that "it seems there is an urgent need to resolve the joint issues within a political framework because both countries need stability and development. They also need to create opportunities to change the negative feeling of regional isolation".
South Sudan was officially declared independent on 9 July 2011 in a celebration that was attended by around 30 African heads of state and representatives of regional and international organisations.
The relationship between North and South Sudan has witnessed continued tension for about two decades until the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between the two sides in January 2005 to end the longest civil war on the African continent.
In accordance with the CPA, a referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan was conducted in January 2011 where around 98 percent of the southern Sudanese citizens voted for independence.
