Sudan withdraws forces along South Sudan border

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM, Sudan

The Sudanese national army announced on Sunday that it had completely withdrawn from its joint borders with South Sudan.

This is said to be the first move of its kind between the two countries since the separation of South Sudan in 2011.

The two countries have had hostile relations over the years, with each trading accusations over the alleged support for rebels in their respective nations.

Sudanese Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Ahmed Alshami said in a statement that the military had carried out a complete redeployment of its troops out of the safe demilitarized zone between the two countries.

Alshami pointed out that Sudan had also reported the move to the African Union mediation panel headed by the former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

''By now, Sudan can declare that it has completely withdrawn from the joint border with South Sudan,'' he added.

Alshami also noted that the withdrawal was consistent with the implementation of decisions of the joint political and security committee between the two countries.

On June 4, the two countries agreed in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to withdraw forces to pave the road for the creation of a demilitarized buffer zone, which would eventually stop the alleged support for rebels in the two countries.

Sudan closed its borders with South Sudan after a brief opening in last March, threatening that it would treat more than 200,000 South Sudanese in Sudan as foreigners.

According to an earlier 2012 deal, South Sudan was to pay $9.10 per barrel for oil flowing through Sudan, plus a fee of $15 per barrel to fulfill a $3 billion obligation called the Transitional Financial Arrangement.