President Kiir Announces the Normalization of Border Relations with Khartoum

Public Statement by General Salva Kiir Mayaardit, president of the Republic of South Sudan

January 25, 2016 (SSB) — My dear beloved citizens of South Sudan, this is to inform you that during the last three weeks, soon after Christmas, I had decided that we must normalize our relations with our brothers and sisters of our sisterly neighboring Republic of The Sudan.

I had dispatched my personal special envoy to Khartoum since the end of December 2015, who has been discussing this matter of the normalization of our common borders with the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum

Today, I want to announce to you, beloved citizens of the Republic of South Sudan, that I have instructed those who are concerned with this matter within our government to withdraw forthwith, any of our Republic of South Sudan army units on the borders, to at least five miles south of our common borders of 1st January 1956, in accordance with our commitment to the terms of The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005 with Khartoum.

We need to work closely with our brothers and sisters in Khartoum, to normalize all our relations. We will reactivate all the committees concerned with this matters.

Too many of our people, from both our two sisterly republics live on our common borders. It is our obligation, responsibility, and duty to cooperate, and to normalize our relations with our brothers and sisters in the Republic of The Sudan for the sake of our people on these mutually agreed common borders.

It is my belief and hope, that my Brother, Filed Marshall Omer Hassan Ahmed el Bashir, the President of the sisterly Republic of The Sudan will also respond to my message of normalization of our relations positively and will, on his part also open our common borders for communications, trade and relationship between our two sisterly people.

May God Almighty blesses all of you and grant you Peace.

Salva Kiir Mayaardit,

President of the Republic of South Sudan

Juba, Jan 25th 2016.

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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