The South Sudanese army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer, has revealed that his country is ready to demilitarise the Sudanese border areas as Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir also affirms his willingness to rebuild the relationship between the neighbors.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Aguer expressed that South Sudan is ready to withdraw its army from the border in order to begin the full deployment of a joint monitoring mission to enforce the demilitarized zone.  He also highlighted his country’s desire to create a venue for lasting peace and stability.

Referring to President Kiir’s speech on Christmas eve, Aguer stated: “Our country’s leadership are trying to create a favorable atmosphere for the enforcement of the agreements signed between the two countries in order to facilitate border trade and open joint markets in addition to the creation of safe corridors for patrons to enter the territory of South Sudan.” 

Meanwhile Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, speaking at the Roseires Dam in Blue Nile state, confirmed his full readiness to renew a neighborly relationship between the two nations.

He stated, ‘We are ready to implement all the agreements that we signed with our southern neighbor intending to create peaceful co-existence and exile exchange between the two nations.’

Both parties signed an agreement to demilitarize the contested border areas in 2012 but attacks have continued to take place.