The Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) between Sudan and South Sudan will meet mid-month in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa in order to discuss security arrangements.

The committee, which is co-chaired by the defence ministers of the two Sudans, is an important mechanism of the Cooperation Agreement signed last September.  

Thabo Mbeki, head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel, invited the committee members to meet again 15 April.

According to the JPSM secretary for the northern side, Dr. Maiz Farouk Mohammed, the meeting is “very important as it will discuss what has been implemented with respect to the matrix of security arrangements, as well as redeployment of forces of the two countries in addition to activation of mechanisms of security and border monitoring.”

A separate technical committee on border crossings is preparing a report on the crossing points, which will be presented before the JPSM.

Dr. Mohammed revealed that the technical committee will meet 13 April in Addis Ababa in order to prepare a consolidated report for the higher committee.

The Sudanese official also suggested that another meeting will discuss the formation of special committee on the harbouring of armed groups and determine the terms of reference and conditions for the work of the committee.

File photo: Sudanese members of the JPSM in Addis Ababa with Thabo Mbeki, 14 January 2013 (AUHIP)