November 2, 2023 (JUBA) –  South Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR)  have agreed to implement a cooperation pact which permits control and monitoring of illegal activities along their common border points.

The CAR president, Faustin-Archange Toudera witnessed the signing of the agreement in the country’s capital, Bangui on Wednesday. 

South Sudan’s deputy Interior minister, Marial Gumke represented President Salva Kiir during discussions that preceded the signing of the pact at the high-level security event.

If implemented, the security pact will enhance security cooperation and is earmarked to strengthen the promotion of economic, social and political relations in joint border areas.  

The conference that culminated into the signing of the pact follows a visit by CAR’s president for a meeting with his South Sudan counterpart, Salva Kiir in September.

The two leaders, during a meeting held in South Sudan’s capital, Juba signed a deal to strengthen border security cooperation to facilitate trade and free movement of people.

The heads of states also agreed to deploy a joint security force to control and monitor the illegal activities of negative forces. The leadership of the two countries further announced their intention to expand the deployment of the joint force to include illegal border crossing for illegal military activities on either side of the border of each country.

Gumke, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said he was honoured to represent his country following the invitation to participate in the high-level regional security meeting. 

“I was honored to lead a government delegation to the Central African Republic upon invitation by the Central African government for South Sudan to partake in the Regional meeting for the official launch of the “Support Platform for the Solution for Forcibly Displaced Persons Related to Central African Republic Crisis,” he explained.

The two-day meeting, which commenced with the Regional Technical Committee (RTC), also discussed in detail the Yaoundé Declaration (2022) as well as its core principles. 

The declaration demands countries in the region to show responsibility towards finding a collective solution for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. It also forms the basis for the final validation of the Tripartite Agreement which South Sudan and other neighbouring countries signed. 

The signing ceremony was witnessed by delegates from neighboring countries, international peace actors, financial institutions and the international community. - Sudan Tribune

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His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met at his Amiri Diwan office Sunday with Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to Qatar Mahadhi Juma Maalim, who called on the Amir to greet him on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the country.
His Highness the Amir wished the Tanzanian ambassador success in his future assignments, and for the relations between Qatar and Tanzania more progress and development. The ambassador extended thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Amir and the State officials for the co-operation accorded to him, which contributed to the success of his tour of duty in the country. - Gulf Times

BRAZZAVILLE, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto said on Saturday that Kenya will lift visa requirements for all Africans by the end of 2023 with the aim of boosting trade with African countries.

"By the end of this year, no African will need a visa to enter Kenya. The time has come to understand the importance of doing trade between us," said Ruto, while speaking at the summit of the world's three major forest basins, namely the Amazon, Congo, and Borneo-Mekong Forest Basins, in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo.

Ruto noted the low rate of intra-African trade and urged to reduce customs tariffs within the African continent to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

"It is time we realize the importance of trading among ourselves and allowing goods, services, people and ideas to move freely across the continent," he said, adding that trade among East African Community countries had grown significantly due to the removal of visa requirements and tariffs.

Ruto said that acknowledging and providing incentives to countries in tropical forest basins for forest protection is a smart climate action.

The Amazon basin in South America, the Congo basin in Central Africa, and the Borneo-Mekong basin in Southeast Asia collectively constitute 80 percent of the world's rainforests and contain approximately two-thirds of its biodiversity. These rainforests are not only vital for their local ecosystems but also play a global role in regulating the planet's climate and sustaining life on Earth. - Xinhua