Sudan and South Sudan signs border security agreement

Sudan and South Sudan signs border security agreement

The governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan have signed a border security agreement aimed at ensuring stability and unhindered development along the common border between both countries.

A statement on Thursday in Addis Ababa by the spokesman of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AULIP), Mr Abibo Ngandu, said that the agreement on border security and the Joint Security Mechanism (JPSM) was another building block facilitated by the panel, chaired by the former president of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki.

Security arrangement

“Within 10 days after signing the agreement, forces from either side shall be redeployed from the Safe Demilitarised Border Zone (SDBZ), an area 10 kilometres either side of the common border,’’ the statement said.

It stated that the JPSM, which was set up under an earlier agreement, would oversee the implementation of the agreement and would be responsible for ensuring the effective administration of the SDBZ.

“An international border monitoring and verification mission shall also be established, with the support of the AU and the UN. Unarmed observers from both sides will work with UN observers to ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement,” it stated.

The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, set up under Resolution 1990 of the UN Security Council, would assist the two parties in the security arrangements for the SDBZ.

Improving relations

The AUHIP described the agreement as a significant contribution towards the ongoing efforts to create stable and peaceful relations between the two sovereign Sudanese states ahead of the secession of southern Sudan on July 9.

The Panel also expressed optimism that the parties would conclude all the necessary agreements and arrangements to create a soft-border between the two Sudanese states.

NAN/Shakira/Williams