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Sudan Tribune

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Khartoum, Juba to discuss activation of buffer zone next December

November 25, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A high-level South Sudanese delegation will arrive in Khartoum at the end of the first week of December to resume discussions on the implementation of security arrangements agreed since September 2012.

South Sudan's defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk shakes hands with his Sudanese counterpart Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Ouf while AUHIP member Abdulsalam Abubakar applauds,  after the signing of an agreement to operationalize the buffer zone between the two countries on 14 October 2015 (Courtesy photo by the AUHIP).
South Sudan’s defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk shakes hands with his Sudanese counterpart Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Ouf while AUHIP member Abdulsalam Abubakar applauds, after the signing of an agreement to operationalize the buffer zone between the two countries on 14 October 2015 (Courtesy photo by the AUHIP).
South Sudan and Sudan defence ministers agreed on 14 October 2015 to operationalize the the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) and the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission (JBVMM).

But Juba twice adjourned the meetings of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) pointing that the defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk had to participate in a summit of IGAD leaders that was supposed to be held in Juba.

South Sudanese ambassador to Khartoum Mayan Dut Waal Wednesday disclosed that a delegation led by defence minister Juuk will arrive in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on 7 December while the JPSM meetings will begin on 8 December

The delegation includes foreign minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, state minster for interior Jadalla Augustino Wani, the South Sudanese army chief of general staff , Paul Malong Awan and head of South Sudanese security service.

Waal in statements to the semi-official Sudanese media Service (SMC) reiterated his government’s seriousness to implement the security arrangement. He further expressed hopes that this meeting paves the way for the delimitation of the joint border and to reach an agreement over the disputed areas.

South Sudan was reticent to the implementation of the agreement, and stopped the UN supported joint monitoring and verification patrols on 22 November 2013.

The suspension came after the objection of the then governor of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal Paul Malong Awan to include the disputed Mile 14 area in the buffer zone.

The peace agreement signed last August by the South Sudanese parties to end the 21 month long conflict provides to activate the buffer zone and prevent the presence of Sudanese rebel groups in the South Sudanese territory.

(ST)

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