South Sudan-Ethiopia Dynamics

In March 2012, the first Ethiopia-South Sudan Joint Ministerial Commission meeting was held in Juba with the signing of eight Memoranda of Understandings (MoU) to advance economic and political ties, covering issues including transit, communications, transport, exports education and capacity building. An MoU was also signed on a Joint Strategic Partnership aimed at promoting development, peace, security and stability in the region and Africa as a whole.

Representatives from Ethiopia and South Sudan met in Ethiopia’s Gambela town, the Sudan Tribune reported in April 2012, to discuss ways of fostering cooperation over a broad range of interests and concerns; by the end of the meeting Gambella state (Ethiopia) chief Umod Ubong and Jonglei state (South Sudan) deputy governor Hussien Mar had signed an agreement for Ethiopia and South Sudan to undertake a range of joint activities along their shared border.

Within the joint border commission, both delegations agreed to control the illegal movement of people across the border by establishing immigration checkpoints at the main crossings at Gambella and Akoba on Ethiopian side and Pagak and Nasir areas on the South Sudanese side.

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