Sudan, S. Sudan fail to reach agreement on zero line: official

November 28, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan and South Sudan are still diverging over the zero line which was proposed by the African Union (AU) mediation last year to determine the baseline for the demilitarised security zone between the countries.

Security delegations held their fifth meeting in Khartoum on 26-27 November where they agreed on matters related to the support and harbouring of rebel groups.

However, the two parties failed to progress on the operationalisation of the buffer zone due to ongoing disagreements on the zero line.

The joint security committee rapporteur, Al-Moiz Farouq, said on Thursday that the two delegations still diverge on the identification of the zero line.

Farouq said the joint mechanism nonetheless agreed to hold a meeting with the participation of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) in order to resolve the thorny issue.

Meanwhile, Sudan and South Sudan are continuing to negotiate on border demarcation.

Both the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the AU have endorsed the proposal, saying the zero line will in no way prejudice any final resolution on disputed areas and demarcation of the contested 1,800-kilometre border.

However, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal government and its Malwal Dinka community have rejected the inclusion of the disputed 14 Mile area, saying the land cannot be claimed by Khartoum government.

As the parties agreed to establish buffer zone in the disputed areas, Khartoum claims that Juba has refused to include some parts of the 14 Mile in the demilitarised zone.

(ST)