South Sudan’s Kiir, Hemedti discuss border, security issues

December 27, 2022 (JUBA) –  South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and the Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council,  Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo held talks, vowing to reinforce security ties between the two nations.

The meeting of leaders from the two nations took place in Juba on Tuesday.

Daglo was accompanied by Lt. Gen. Ahmed Ibrahim Mufaddal, Director of the General Intelligence Service, Major Gen. Muhammad Ali Saber, Director of Military Intelligence Authority, and Major Gen. Al Khair Abdullah, head of the Intelligence Department of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

South Sudan’s adviser on security affairs, Tut Gatluak said the closed-door meeting took place within the framework of cooperation between the two countries on several issues including, security, economy, peace process and updates on the current political security in Sudan and South Sudan.

“You know Sudan and South Sudan are people bonded not only by history, and geography, but culture and civilization. This was one reason for the visit. The second reason is for the leaders to update themselves on the current security, political and economic situation in the two countries. We are going into the dry season and people expect a lot of cross-border movement. This needs to be arranged before this movement takes place,” he explained.

Gatluak affirmed that the meeting was fruitful and looked into common files concerning opening of border crossings, reactivating the joint committees and facilitating trade movements between the two countries.

He further said Daglo briefed Kiir on the latest developments pertaining the implementation of the peace accord in Sudan.

The meeting was also attended by top South Sudanese security officials.

The borders between Sudan and South Sudan were officially erected when South Sudan took independence in 2011. A year later, Sudan and South Sudan descended into war over the disputed oil-rich area, Panthou/Heglig, which lies on their border.

(ST)