Political parties in north and south Sudan have reached a deal on the distribution of seats in parliament, ending a long deadlock.
The south will get an extra 40 seats in parliament, meaning MPs from the region could block constitutional changes.
Under a peace deal in 2005, which ended two decades of civil war, a referendum is due next year on whether the south should secede.
The BBC reports some in the south feared the north could use its majority to block this.
National elections are due in April. They will be the first in 24 years.
The new seats will be appointed after the election.
