Uganda says a team of surveyors is already at the disputed border area. The two neighbors have agreed to follow maps dating back to the 1920s – when Britain was colonial master.
South Sudan says it will accept the results from the survey
“The commission will determine the legitimacy of this issue, if its determined that this portion of the land belongs to Uganda, the people of South Sudan have no problem with that.” Samuel Laute, South Sudan Ambassador
Recent clashes between border communities have led to injuries, the loss of property and displacement. Uganda’s foreign ministry says the demarcation will take place where there’s been trouble.
“Our concern here is we wanted the relationship, the consistency, the staying of the people together, the crossing of one person from one side of the border to the other should not be a problem. So the border should not be an issue, these are colonial boundaries that in the African context, we should not actually have these kinds of boundaries…” Samuel Laute, South Sudan Ambassador
South Sudan is a longtime political ally of Uganda The neighbors are also major trading partners. So it’s in both their interests to reach a settlement.
