Broken Agreement: Violations in the Demilitarized Border Zone by Sudan and South Sudan

The Satellite Sentinel Project, or SSP, has secured unique independent evidence of the failure of Sudan and South Sudan to meet obligations to withdraw their troops in two potential hot spots along their shared border: Heglig, also known as Panthou, and Kiir Adem. DigitalGlobe satellite imagery confirms that as of April 14, 2013, both countries’ armed forces were maintaining defensive installations within the agreed-upon demilitarized buffer zone along their shared border. To date, neither the joint border-verification mechanism established by both countries, nor the U.N. peacekeeping mission tasked with monitoring the demilitarized buffer zone has detected these violations. Although Sudan and South Sudan have taken some steps toward implementing the demilitarized buffer zone, by maintaining these installations, they have failed to fully comply with their obligations under agreements that they have signed.

This report was originally published by the Satellite Sentinel Project.