Sudan and South Sudan discussed an early release of their war prisoners during the fifth meeting of the Joint Security Mechanism (JSM) between Sudan and South Sudan on 27 November in Khartoum.

In a press statement after the meeting, the chief of the Intelligence Service of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) explained that the meeting discussed the issue of captives and their subsequent release as soon as possible.

“Numbers of the captives are limited. The Military Attachés can visit them any time to be familiar with their captives’ situations in the prisons,” according to the senior Sudanese official.

The two sides also discussed the alleged support to rebel groups and on how to tackle all the security arrangements incorporated in the Joint Cooperation Agreement between the two countries.

Hassan underscored they agreed on cutting any support to rebels and speed up identification of the demilitarised zero line between their international borders.

The JSM agreed to resume talks by mid January 2014, a source said.

Both chiefs of the countries' Intelligence Services headed the meeting. Attendees were General Sadig Amir Hassan of the SAF and General Mac Bol of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), among others.

File photo: Sudanese Armed Forces on parade (Radio Dabanga)

Related:

Joint Security meetings begin in Khartoum (21 August 2013)

Kiir directs the release of 159 Sudanese prisoners (4 April 2013)