(KHARTOUM) – Sudan and South Sudan joint border technical committee failed to reach an agreement over the start of border demarcation process during meetings held in Khartoum this week.

The two countries held a series of meetings from 7 to 11 December on how to demarcate the 80% non-disputed zones of the 2,010-km border between the two countries.

The two sides “differed on how to demarcate the 80% of the border. From where the demarcation line starts? The East or the West,” said theco-chairman of the joint boundary committee from the Sudanese side, Abdallah al-Sadiq told the semi-official SMC on Thursday.

Al-Sadiq further said at the difference will submitted the joint border demarcation commission adding the committee will hold its next meeting in Juba to discuss the remaining agenda.

Since the south Sudan independence three years ago, the two countries renew their commitment to demarcate the agreed boundary and to establish a Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) over the disputed zones but nothing is done on the ground.

Analysts say the new dynamic created by the South Sudan crisis and the emergence of the rebel SPLM-In-Opposition complicates the implementation of the 27 September 2012 agreement on this respect.

The Sudanese official said the joint body agreed to establish a joint fund to finance the demarcation process, the joint call to donors to fund the operation and to provide technical support, and the formation of a joint technical team consists of 80 members, divided equally between the two countries.

African Union representative in Khartoum, Mahmoud Kan, last Tuesday reiterated the support of the regional body to the two countries to finalise the border demarcation as soon as possible.

He further said that the African Union border programme would support the two sides during their meetings in Khartoum, pointing that a team of three border experts is already working with the joint body.

Source: ST