Kiir to Hamdok: We must expel rebels in both countries

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and visiting Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Thursday discussed ways to boost security cooperation on their shared borders.

President Kiir disclosed that border security cooperation between Khartoum and Juba will help to prevent rebels from both countries who engage in subversive activities from benefiting from logistical support.

“I want us to have strong security-related cooperation on border security, intelligence, and protection of civilians. We must not allow those who rebel against any of our two countries to cooperate in our territories,” Kiir told reporters at Thursday’s press conference in Juba.

Prime Minister Hamdok reiterated his government’s readiness to address issues that are beneficial to both Sudan and South Sudan.

“We are serious to address all the issues that are for our benefit and also need to give example to the rest of the world. South Sudan and Sudan need to work together and develop our countries,” he said.

In October last year, Sudan and South Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Khartoum for joint military and defense cooperation.

The memorandum was signed by the Sudanese Minister of Defense, Gen. Yasin Ibrahim and his South Sudanese colleague Angelina Teny.

The deal includes cooperation in the fields of “training, exchange of experiences, peace promotion, support and disaster management, as well as combating cross-border crimes, smuggling, human trafficking and combating the activities of anti-peace elements”.

The agreement also incorporates implementation mechanisms at the level of defense ministers, chiefs of staff, and experts.