South Sudan Calls for International Arbitration of Borders should Addis Ababa Talks Fail

JUBA, 11 June 2012 – The Republic of South Sudan has proposed an arbitration of the borders by the permanent court of Arbitration in The Hague should the current African Union mediated talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa fail to reach a comprehensive solution on the border with Sudan.
Addressing Members of Parliament during the opening of the National Legislature’s second session 2012 today in Juba, H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan said the border dispute with the Republic of Sudan will have to be referred to the court of arbitration if it is not resolved by the ongoing negotiations based on legal and historical facts.
He said despite South Sudan’s repeated efforts to resolve all the outstanding issues including defining the borders with Sudan, very little willingness has been expressed by Sudan government. He said instead Sudan’s intentions were to occupy more of South Sudan’s territory and plunder its resources.
“Considering how little progress has been made on the border demarcation since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement CPA and considering the urgency of the matter, should the negotiations in Addis Ababa fail, South Sudan proposes arbitration of borders by the permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague”, said President Kiir.
President Kiir said his government has written to the members of the African Union Peace and Security Council informing them of the position of the government of South Sudan. He said the position of government of South Sudan is that any discussions on the border issues should be subject to the 1st January 1956 border demarcation established upon Sudan’s independence as provided for by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The first round of talks after the two countries’ bitter border clashes that erupted early April concluded last Thursday with no progress made.
Reported by Matata Safi