Sudan and South Sudan have resumed on Tuesday meetings of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM), a joint committee tasked by the 2012 agreement with overseeing the demilitarization of the border zone.
The meeting, which is expected to last for three days, is convened in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. It is a follow-up of a similar meeting held in the South Sudanese capital, Juba in November 2021.
The joint meeting held in Khartoum mainly focuses on border crossings and the work of the Joint Border Commission.
South Sudan became an independent nation in July 2011, although there were still a number of issues yet to be settled with Khartoum.
The Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) was agreed upon by both sides to oversee the security of the common border between the two countries.
Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, Sudan’s Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim affirmed that the relations between Sudan and South Sudan will remain close and strong.
Yassin said that Sudan is committed to what was agreed upon in terms of the agreement, affirming the withdrawal of the Sudanese forces from the demilitarized zone in line with the agreements between the two countries.
The Sudanese minister underscored that the cooperation agreements included a number of areas, and their implementation would lead to more interest.
For her part, South Sudan’s Defense Minister, Angelina Teny said the developments that created a disturbance from local communities in the Mile-14 area have amicably been dealt with.
Teny also affirmed South Sudan’s commitment to the joint work in the mechanism, while emphasizing the importance of controlling citizens at the borders between the two neighbouring countries.