South Sudan seeks peaceful solution to border dispute with Kenya
By James Gatdet Dak
October 31, 2009 (JUBA) – The semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan has reiterated its position for a peaceful and amicable solution to the deadly border dispute involving two neighboring communities of the sisterly countries.
The President of the Government of Southern Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, briefed the Council of Ministers on Friday about the border conflict between the Toposa and Turkana communities at the Southern Sudan-Kenya border.
Kiir who recently visited Nairobi and discussed the issue with his Kenyan counter-part, President Mwai Kibaki, reiterated the Government of Southern Sudan’s position to resolve the issue through peaceful means.
Sudanese Toposa and Kenyan Turkana communities have been clashing for the last few weeks around the contested Nadapal border area. The clashes have left dozens dead and many more wounded.
Efforts were earlier made by the government to normalize the situation by dispatching to Nairobi both Regional Cooperation minister, General Oyai Deng Ajak and Internal Affairs minister Gier Chuang Aluong, but the situation continued to escalate.
President Kiir further explained that Kenya had reinforced its troops at the contested border area which he said he also discussed with President Kibaki so that they are redeployed.
He also directed the Southern Sudan organized forces at the border area not to negatively respond to the situation.
According to the official spokesperson Paul Mayom Akech, the Council has resolved to form a high level ministerial committee to be headed by the Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny to pursue a peaceful diplomatic channel that would amicably resolve the issue with the sisterly country.
The membership of the committee will also include the Governor of Eastern Equatoria state, Brigadier General Aloysius Emor Ojetuk and commissioner of the local authority in the Toposa area.
Kenya hosted and mediated the peace talks between the former ex-rebel movement, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudan government represented by the National Congress Party (NCP) which brought about the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in January 2005.
(ST)
maumau
South Sudan seeks peaceful solution to border dispute with Kenya
Involve the Toposa and Turkana elders in the discussion because they know where the border lies better than anybody. Toposas are being killed by notorious Turkana while GOSS sit and watches, whets up. Plz Mr. President intervene by all means to avoid our land from being annexed by greedy Kenyans. Their is allegation that oil has been discovered in the Sudan` side of the border, so Kenya wants to annex the land before drilling the oil. It is the responsibility of the government of South Sudan to protect its resources from foreign invasion than leaving it to the indegenous Toposa. Kiir must act.
Allajabu
South Sudan seeks peaceful solution to border dispute with Kenya
Dear Kiir Mayardit,
That was a great move but you ought to bring Illemi Triangle back to fatherland. We cannot allow over 10,000 square miles piece of land to Kenyans and Ethiopians. We are not begging anyone here for land, it is ours and must be return to Southern Sudan.
Professor Allajabu Al Dinkawi
Dinka Dominated SPLA
South Sudan seeks peaceful solution to border dispute with Kenya
Thinks to kiir and death to Raik machar