Sudan officials meet to resolve disputed border issues

Authorities from the five bordering States in the Northern part of South Sudan under the auspices of the GOSS and in partnership with Concordis International have convened to formulate ways on border issues.

The two days workshop that began yesterday is taking place at Home and Away Business Centre in Juba to discuss challenges affecting the relationship between bordering States, share experiences on resolutions and how to peacefully co-exist ahead of South Sudan’s Independence.

GOSS Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development H.E John Luk Jok who chaired the function told Gurtong in an exclusive interview that the workshop aimed to inform members on various experiences and broader knowledge in this particular and how to address them.

“We already have some itchy problems across North-South Sudan border. It is one of the outstanding issues so far,” John Luk explained.

The workshop is expected to formulate strategies on how communities in the two regions: North and South and the States continue to co-exist peacefully and possibly setting up programs and cooperatives along the border.

Among the attendees are the Governors of Unity, Warap, Western Bar El Ghazal, and Northern Bar El Ghazal States, County Commissioners, Chiefs, GOSS Ministry of Legal Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs and Peace and CPA Implementation among other government and local authorities.

The International Experts sharing experiences with the local authorities were drawn from West Africa and European Union.

Concordis International, a Non-governmental Organization organized the workshop following a request by the GOSS Minister of Peace and CPA Implementation H.E Pagan Amum.

“There is need to inform key South Sudanese stakeholders on the strategies for border management as her borders attain international recognition – (North and South Sudan) on 9 July,” Ms. Mande Gardner, the Concordis Sudan Deputy Country Director elaborated.

She said that, the workshop was very significant. “It’s very important that the Governments of North-South Sudan consider how they will manage the relationship across the border in a way that will reflect the concerns and the needs of the communities living within these borders,” she explained.

Article viewed at: Oye! Times at www.oyetimes.com