South Sudan, CAR agree to implement border security pact
November 2, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) have agreed to implement a cooperation pact which permits control and monitoring of illegal activities along their common border points.
The CAR president, Faustin-Archange Toudera witnessed the signing of the agreement in the country’s capital, Bangui on Wednesday.
South Sudan’s deputy Interior minister, Marial Gumke represented President Salva Kiir during discussions that preceded the signing of the pact at the high-level security event.
If implemented, the security pact will enhance security cooperation and is earmarked to strengthen the promotion of economic, social and political relations in joint border areas.
The conference that culminated into the signing of the pact follows a visit by CAR’s president for a meeting with his South Sudan counterpart, Salva Kiir in September.
The two leaders, during a meeting held in South Sudan’s capital, Juba signed a deal to strengthen border security cooperation to facilitate trade and free movement of people.
The heads of states also agreed to deploy a joint security force to control and monitor the illegal activities of negative forces. The leadership of the two countries further announced their intention to expand the deployment of the joint force to include illegal border crossing for illegal military activities on either side of the border of each country.
Gumke, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said he was honoured to represent his country following the invitation to participate in the high-level regional security meeting.
“I was honored to lead a government delegation to the Central African Republic upon invitation by the Central African government for South Sudan to partake in the Regional meeting for the official launch of the “Support Platform for the Solution for Forcibly Displaced Persons Related to Central African Republic Crisis,” he explained.
The two-day meeting, which commenced with the Regional Technical Committee (RTC), also discussed in detail the Yaoundé Declaration (2022) as well as its core principles.
The declaration demands countries in the region to show responsibility towards finding a collective solution for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. It also forms the basis for the final validation of the Tripartite Agreement which South Sudan and other neighbouring countries signed.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by delegates from neighboring countries, international peace actors, financial institutions and the international community.
(ST)