The fifth meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism between Sudan and South Sudan is scheduled to start on 5 November in Sudan’s capital Khartoum.

JPSM rapporteur Al-Muez Faroug told the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that the meeting will discuss implementation of the resolutions of the previous meeting.

He noted that the recent visit by President Omar al-Bashir to Juba has motivated the mechanism to endeavour to remove all hurdles that may obstruct any possible breakthrough between the two sides.

Faroug emphasized the need for South Sudan’s disengagement with rebel groups as well as the creation of the Safe Demilitarized Zone.

JPSM is headed by the two ministers of defense and the technical committee is co-chaired by military intelligence chief Gen. Siddiq Amer Hassan and his counterpart Maj-Gen. Mac Paul.

File photo: Abdelrahim Hussein, Sudan’s defense minister (left) and Alison Manani Magaya, South Sudan’s interior minister (right) at Juba Airport on 5 November 2012 (Juba Post).