Sudan border deal under way

Sudan and South Sudan want to have the bulk of their loosely-defined and volatile border demarcated within three months, a Sudanese official said yesterday.

The demarcation, however, would not include five areas that are still disputed by the two sides, said Yahya al-Hussein, a senior government official.

South Sudan broke off from its northern neighbour in July under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of conflict.

“The two parties have agreed to begin work on drawing the border immediately, and finish work within three months, ” Mr Hussein said.

The two sides agree on about 90 per cent of the border.