AU hails “positive” step in Sudan, S. Sudan relations
April 25, 2013 (JUBA/ADDIS ABABA) – The Chairperson of the African Union Commission has welcomed the internal rules of procedures adopted by the Joint-High Level Committee (JHLC) on the status of nationals of other state and other related matters between Sudan and South Sudan.
The agreement was reached on Thursday by the JHLC, which was established by the Framework Agreement signed by the two countries on 27 September. It was signed by Alison Monani Magaya, South Sudan’s Interior minister and his Sudan counterpart, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid.
Zuma, in a statement, also congratulated the two countries for successfully adopting their rules of procedure and embarking on the adoption of a comprehensive work programme.
The committee, co-chaired by the Interior ministers from either state, will among other things be responsible for all matters relating to the status and treatment of all nationals of each state in the other state.
“The committee shall oversee the adoption and implementation of joint measures relating to the status and treatment of the nationals of each state in the territory of the other state,” a communiqué from the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), partly says.
The JHLC, in its work programme, will focus on areas like elaboration of the four freedoms, facilitation of documentations of nationals, immigration issues, publicity on the framework agreement and the four freedoms.
The development comes two days after the two countries agreed to establish 10 crossing points along their border, eight of which are to be opened immediately.
The decision was reached at the end of a two-day Joint Peace and Security Mechanism (JPSM) extraordinary meeting between the two countries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was witnessed by the AUHIP chair, Thabo Mbeki.
Sudan’s President, Omer Hassan Al Bashir, while visiting Juba this month, said he and his South Sudan counterpart, Salva Kiir agreed that the borders be opened and organised so as to improve trade and movement between the two neighbouring countries.
In the past, relations between the two countries have been tense, with Sudan accusing Juba of backing the SPLM-N rebels fighting in its volatile Blue Nile and South Kordofan state; an allegation the latter denies.
(ST)