South Sudan and Sudan agree with Sudan on border demilitarized zones

South Sudan and Sudan have agreed to verify the redeployment of forces along the common border in a deal signed in the Ethiopian Capital Addis Ababa on Sunday. 

The agreement was brokered under the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan and South Sudan, chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki - in line with security provisions in the nine cooperation agreements signed in September 2012. 

The agreement included the creation of Safe Demilitarized Border Zones as well as specific crossing-points. South Sudan Minister of Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Kuol Manyang Juuk signed on behalf of the Juba government.

In an Interview with He said a joint committee will verify eight border points where forces of the two countries are said to be present according to a report by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei - UNIFSA.