Officials from Ethiopia and South Sudan hold joint border governors in Addis Ababa. (-)

A Joint Border Governors meeting is underway in Addis Ababa to discuss security, immigration, trade, and infrastructures between South Sudan and Ethiopia.

David Nyang, the Cabinet Affairs Minister of Upper Nile State, informed Eye Radio that delegates from South Sudan represent three border states and one administrative area.

David Yau Yau is attending the meeting on behalf of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Hon George Echom from Eastern Equatoria State Assembly is team leader from the state.

Mr. Nyang said the Joint Border Governors Meeting is a significant event, focusing on several key issues affecting their porous border.

It aims to address cross-border security concerns to ensure peace and stability in the region and discuss policies and cooperation to manage the movement of people across the border.

Others include enhancing bilateral trade relations, addressing barriers to economic cooperation and planning and developing infrastructure projects to improve connectivity and support economic growth.

“The main topics to be discussed include security issues that arise in the border including the spillover conflict between communities (in Ethiopia),” said Nyang.

“There are so many security issues that need to be addressed as well as immigration, customs and trade issues as well as the infrastructure that need to be addressed. The meeting will focus on those four thematic areas and we will deliberate with our current part to see how to address those issues.”

The Ethiopia-South Sudan border stretches 1,114 kilometres from the tripoint of Sudan to the northern beginning of the Illemi Triangle disputed area between Kenya and South Sudan.

According to the US-based Wilson Center, people along this border face cross-border inter-communal conflicts which are exacerbated by South Sudan’s instability and low economic inclusion in Ethiopia.

Other factors are border insurgents who engage in illicit trade, child abduction, cattle rustling, and arms smuggling.

Ethiopia and South Sudan are set to build a 220-km cross-border road, following a $738-million financial agreement signed in May 2023.

The project, recently ratified by the South Sudan parliament, aims to enhance connectivity and bolster economic ties between the two neighbouring countries, underscoring the growing cooperation and mutually beneficial relationship between Ethiopia and South Sudan.