A joint committee tasked with demarcating the border between Sudan and South Sudan concluded meetings in the Ethiopian capital on Friday after agreeing to resume meeting again in Khartoum on 7 December.

This decision came after a workshop held in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the African Union.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Rashid Haroun, State Minister at the Presidency, described the committee meeting as a success, noting that it came after the recent visit by President Salva Kiir to Khartoum.

He disclosed that they plan to resume meeting on 7 December when they will make a detailed plan for demarcation of the border by 7 February next year. He also suggested plans for a joint force for protecting border demarcation teams.  

For his part, South Sudan’s Information Michael Makuei confirmed the same date for the planned resumption of the talks. He told Radio Tamazuj that he hopes that the two Sudans can reach peace agreements with their respective rebels so as to permit safe demarcation of the border.

The border commission is a mechanism agreed upon by Sudan and South Sudan in a Cooperation Agreement dating to September 2012. It is one of several elements of that deal that were not fully implemented. Friday’s decision represents a step toward reactivating the commission.

Related:

South Sudan’s Makuei ‘hopes’ for peace in near future (21 Nov.)

Two Sudans disinterested border demarcation: report (14 Nov.)