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Khartoum withdraws troops from border with South Sudan

Monday June 27 2016
PIX

The Khartoum government has withdrawn all its troops from the border with South Sudan, an army official has said. FILE PHOTO | XINHUA

The Khartoum government has withdrawn all its troops from the border with South Sudan, an army official has said.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) spokesman Brigadier Ahmed Alshami, in a statement seen by the Africa Review, announced the withdrawal, adding that a report about the redeployment has been submitted to the African Union mediation panel.

''By now, Sudan can announce that it has completely withdrawn from the joint border with South Sudan,'' Brig Alshami said.

He pointed out that the move was consistent with the implementation of the joint political and security mechanism between the two countries.

The South Sudan government had not reacted to the Khartoum gesture at the time of this report.

The two countries last month agreed in Khartoum on a raft of decisions, including the withdrawal of the forces, the creation of demilitarised zones and the stopping of the support to rebels on either side.

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

READ: Khartoum, Juba relations strained over rebel claims

ALSO READ: South Sudanese jittery after Khartoum shuts border

Earlier in February, the two states agreed to review the oil transportation charges amid the low global prices.

However, the agreement has not been implemented as Sudan accuses Juba of continued support to rebels.

According to a 2012 deal, South Sudan was to pay $9.10 per barrel of oil flowing through Sudan, and another $15 per barrel to fulfill a $3 billion obligation called the Transitional Financial Arrangement (TFA).

READ: Sudan opens border with S.Sudan for first time since secession

ALSO READ: Khartoum and Juba in talks over pending issues

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