African Union experts discuss boundary demarcation in Khartoum
August 26, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – An African Union group of experts on boundary demarcation is in Khartoum for talks on border demarcation and disputed areas with South Sudan days before the resumption of talks in Addis Ababa.
The delegation was in Juba where it held similar discussions to assess Juba’s point of view on the disputed border.
Sudan says there are only five disputed locations on the common border but Juba says their are nine disputed area that belong to the new republic, which seceded from Sudan last year as part of a 2005 peace deal.
Al-Obeid Marawah, spokesperson of the foreign ministry in Khartoum, told reporters on Sunday that the visiting delegation will hold intensive talks with the Sudanese experts on issues of border demarcation with the South Sudan.
He further said the upcoming talks on unresolved issues in Addis Ababa are expected to last for three weeks where the parties will discuss all the issues including border and security arrangements.
Regarding the date of the talks he said the process may start on Thursday 30 August.
However South Sudanese government spokesperson Barnaba Marial Benjamin told reporters in Juba he expects the discussion recommence after the funerals of the late Ethiopian Prime Minister on 2 September.
Officials in Khartoum and Juba say they are still awaiting the position of the mediation to learn more about the exact date of talks.
SUDANESE OFFICIAL IN JUBA
Foreign ministry Undersecretary, Rahmat-Allah Mohamed Osman, will fly to Juba next Wednesday for talks with South Sudanese officials.
This visit is the first since the deterioration of relations between the two countries.
Following a meeting with Rahmat-Allah, South Sudanese ambassador in Khartoum Mayan Dut Waal told reporters that the Sudanese official will discuss issues related to visas, and direct flights between the two capitals.
The South Sudanese ambassador also attended Sunday a commemoration ceremony held in Khartoum to honour the memory of Paulino Matip, deputy commander in chief of the South Sudanese army, who died last week in Nairobi.
The event was attended by many South Sudanese in the capital and Sudanese officials. Lam Akol, leader of the South Sudan’s main opposition party – the SPLM-DC – was among those who took part in the ceremony.
(ST)