Sudan, Ethiopia discuss joint border force

KHARTOUM

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday discussed plans to establish a joint force tasked with protecting the two countries’ shared border.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 32nd African Union Summit currently underway in Addis Ababa.

According to a subsequent statement released by al-Bashir’s office, the two men discussed plans to create a joint border committee, officially demarcate the common border, and draw up a joint border-protection force.

They also reportedly stressed the importance of strengthening economic ties between Sudan and Ethiopia.

Last summer, both countries agreed to deploy a joint force along the shared border, which continues to see sporadic skirmishes involving rebel groups, human traffickers and local security forces.

Although a joint committee was set up in 2015 to determine the Sudan-Ethiopia frontier, several stretches of the shared border have yet to be formally demarcated.

KHARTOUM

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday discussed plans to establish a joint force tasked with protecting the two countries’ shared border.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 32nd African Union Summit currently underway in Addis Ababa.

They also reportedly stressed the importance of strengthening economic ties between Sudan and Ethiopia.

Last summer, both countries agreed to deploy a joint force along the shared border, which continues to see sporadic skirmishes involving rebel groups, human traffickers and local security forces.

Although a joint committee was set up in 2015 to determine the Sudan-Ethiopia frontier, several stretches of the shared border have yet to be formally demarcated.