Sudan, South Sudan agree to set up joint security force to prevent weapons movement

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his Sudanese counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Burhan agreed Thursday to establish a joint security force to prevent movement of illegal weapons.

The heads of states emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and security along their borders to promote peace and prosperity for the two countries.

The joint security force will also combat “negative forces and activities” along the border corridors, according to a communique issued by the foreign affairs ministries of the two countries following a meeting of the two leaders in the capital Juba.

The communique said the security of South Sudan and Sudan is their top priority, and as the two countries are closely intertwined, instability or insecurity within one country can spill across the borders.

Dafallah Al-Haj Ali, Sudan’s undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the meeting focused on ways to fast-track the implementation of the peace agreements as well as security issues and bilateral cooperation.