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Juba, Khartoum - 9 Apr 2012

Juba starts procedures to provide identity documents to Southerners

The South Sudanese Ministry of Interior Affairs said it is preparing procedures to provide identity documents to Southerners still living in Sudan.

A delegation of the Ministry of Interior Affairs informed Khartoum on the upcoming procedures. Elija Costa, head of the delegation, told Sudanese officials that his embassy in Khartoum is preparing to start procedures the coming days.

Ahman Atta Al Mannan, Sudanese Director-General of Passports and Immigration, said in a press statement on Sunday that the Sudanese government wants to extend the deadline for Southerners living in Sudan with one month. He added the government is supporting the voluntary return of people to the South.

After one month, however, Khartoum will treat Southerners as foreigners. Citizens from South Sudan should then either leave the country or be officially registrated.