The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan held talks this weekend, for the first time since April.
Meeting at an African Union summit in Ethiopia, Sudan's Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's Salva Kiir discussed the disputed South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions.
According to AllAfrica, Kiir suggested that a referendum be held on the disputed region of Abeyei, however Bashir's response remains unknown.
According to the Sudan Tribune, a three-pronged plan was agreed upon during the meeting regarding filling Sudan's financial deficit, whereby Sudan would account for a third, South Sudan for a third, and the international community meet the final third.
As South Sudan celebrated it's first anniversary of independence, the two presidents shook hands publicly for the first time.
THe UN set the 2nd August as a deadline by which time to resolve the dispute following cross border violence in the oil rich region of Heglig.