Sudan, South Sudan hold talks after deciding to reopen border

Most important decision we made ‘is the agreement on areas of trade, transport and banking,’ Sudan’s defense chief says

By Benjamin Takpiny

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - Joint security and political mechanism teams from South Sudan and Sudan held talks Thursday in Juba regarding border security after the two countries agreed to reopen their common border in August.

“We have dealt with a number of issues, we had an opportunity to review some of the previous decisions of the joint security committed, we discussed how to make effective and efficient the work of joint security work,” chief of South Sudan's defense and veterans affairs Angelina Teny told reporters.

“We also deliberated on a report of the UN Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and Joint Border Verification Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) on the status of the situation within the areas of the buffer zone, and the status of implementation of previous recommendations, including some of the concerns that were raised by UNISFA and JBVMM,” she added.

Sudan’s Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim said they also discussed decisions reached in previous meetings.

“We have agreed on reopening of border points, we have taken many decisions and the most important is the agreement on areas of trade, transport and banking,” said Ibrahim, who was accompanied by senior officials from the Sudanese Interior Ministry, police, and National Security.

The two countries also agreed to continue discussing agreements on trade and economic free zone and transit arrangements, in addition to the resumption of cargo and passenger movement by land and river transport, and railway.

Khartoum and Juba signed a 2012 Cooperation Agreement that includes a wide range of issues from border demarcation, oil transit fees, trade and movement of goods and people across their common border.

Disputes about ownership of areas along the border are being handled by an ad-hoc committee of the African Union.

Sudan and South Sudan agreed last month to reestablish four border crossing points: Jebeleen-Renk, Meiram, Buram-Tumsah and Kharsana-Panakuac.

The official reopening is expected in Jebeleen on Oct. 1.

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