Khartoum asks to redeploy South Sudanese troops from contested areas
November 3, 2012 (KHARTOUM/JUBA) — Sudan demanded to hold a meeting of the joint security meeting because South Sudanese troops are still stationing in the disputed areas, said foreign minister Ali Karti on Friday.
The meeting which was delayed several times by the South Sudanese side has to discuss the redeployment of troops from areas claimed by both parties on the common border such as 14 mile and Kafia Kinji where SPLA forces are stationed.
Speaking a Friday’s radio talk show, foreign minister disclosed that Juba did only pull out its troops partially from the areas where the buffer zone should be established.
He said that the South Sudanese army explained that the rains prevented from evacuating troops and their heavy weapons.
“Till now we are still waiting the withdrawal of troops that had to be done since the autumn,” Karti said.
“We believe that security issues must be implemented now and this is what drove Sudan to invite South Sudan and mediator to meet in order to implement security agreements,” he further stressed.
In accordance with the security arrangement the two parties have to withdraw their troops ten kilometers from the unmarked border.
The inclusion of 14 mile area in the disputed areas raised tensions in both parties of the border while the Rezeigat of South and east Darfur pressed hard Khartoum during the talks to reject the inclusion of the contested area in the security arrangements, the Malual Dinka rejected it after the signing of the deal and organized several protests.
After the signing of the cooperation agreement on 30 September, Northern Bahr el-Gahzal state governor Paul Malong Awan, who is critical to cooperation agreement pledged to not withdraw the South Sudanese army from the 14 mile. However, following meetings held in October with President Salva Kiir he declared the need to cooperate with the government.
Minister Karti said the implementation of the cooperation agreement and its different protocols requires regular meetings between the officials from both sides. He pointed out that these meetings however have to start with the security issues.
However it is not clear when the joint security committee will meet. Karti earlier this week said that the meeting would be held on Monday 5 November, but other sources in Khartoum say it would take place on Sunday.
Also, South Sudanese government spokesperson Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, when asked about the date of the meeting, said without elaboration “next week”. A member of the joint security mechanism and deputy interior minister Salva Mathok Gengdit told Sudan Tribune “the meeting will be between Sunday and Monday”.
The security meeting will discuss, the redeployment of troops from 4 contested areas besides also the formation of the joint border monitoring teams that will include 90 officers from every side and 50 Ethiopian peacekeepers from UNISFA of Abyei.
The meeting also has to tackle the measures undertaken by each country on the presence of rebel groups in its territory.
Anne Richard, U.S. assistant secretary for population, refugees and migration who visited Yada in Unity state this week underlined the presence of Sudanese rebels in the refugees camps and spoke about recruitment of child soldiers.
(ST)
