Alkhair al-Fahim, Sudan’s head of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee has revealed the failure of the joint technical committee meeting to form the Abyei joint police as planned.

Divergence between Sudan and South Sudan’s interests on the issues surrounding this disputed border area has stalled debate on proposals made by the two countries. They had agreed to find a mutually agreeable solution on this matter during the previous joint oversight committee meeting in Addis Ababa.

He added in an interview with Radio Tamazuj yesterday that “The great differences in the position of the two countries with each being stuck on its own point of view and proposal have caused them to not reach an agreement.”

Claiming that South Sudan’s proposal was obstructive, al-Fahim pointed to differences over the numbers of police officers proposed by each side and acknowledged that the expectation is now that UNISFA will propose a solution combining the interests of each.

Both Sudan and South Sudan struck an agreement in September to demilitarise the border region in order to maintain a buffer zone but neither side have yet implemented this.

Photo: Technical team for establishment of Abyei Police Service meets in Abyei town, 4 Feb 2013 (AUHIP)