Following a historic reconciliatory meeting between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir in the Sudanese capital, the former has pledged to cease its support of armed Sudanese opposition groups, the Sudan Tribune reports.
Wrapping up a two-day trip to Khartoum on Thursday, Kiir reiterated that his country would not support armed Sudanese opposition groups before announcing an agreement with Bashir on a roadmap to implement outstanding security agreements.
"We do not support the Sudanese rebel movements, and if you come to Juba, you will not find them," Kiir told a joint news conference with Bashir in response to accusations that his country was providing support to the Sudanese rebels.
"We cannot support the opposition because employees in South Sudan and the army have not been paid their salaries for six months. If someone can accuse his brother, we accuse Sudan of being the source of all weapons in the South," he added.
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He expatiated that Khartoum was also harbouring opponents of his government and said he could provide a list thereof.
Kiir added that particular groups were benefiting from tense relations between Khartoum and Juba and were peddling false rumours and misinformation to exacerbate tensions and security issues between the two countries.
However, despite the mutual recriminations Kiir underlined his desire to strengthen relations between Juba and Khartoum and to normalise relations.
"We are one people in two states and we want to live in peace," he said.
Concluding the visit the two leaders pledged to immediately activate the safe, demilitarised border zone between the two countries.
Previously the incomplete demarcation boundary process, over disputed areas along the 2,000km border, had left the demilitarised zone un-operational.