South Sudan seeks arbitration over disputed borderlands - Reuters Africa

By Hereward Holland

JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan said on Wednesday it is seeking international arbitration to settle a dispute with neighbouring Sudan over ownership of several contested borderlands.

The African neighbours, which split apart in July, have clashed repeatedly along their 1,800 km (1,200 miles) long border, parts of which passes close to oilfields.

The two edged close to resuming full-blown war in April when South Sudan's army seized the Heglig oil region, before withdrawing in the face of international pressure.

The African Union (AU) has managed to bring back both sides to the negotiation table but talks broke off last week over disputes over the positing of their boundary line.

South Sudan's chief negotiator Pagan Amum said international arbitration was the best way to determine the status of the disputed border areas.

"Let the government of Sudan join us to go to arbitration because arbitration is the most civilised way and most peaceful way to resolve this dispute over the border. You don't need to fight for this border," Amum told reporters in the South Sudan capital Juba.

"South Sudan will go with its maps and documents and records showing that these are territories within South Sudan," he said, gesturing at a map dated May 2, 1955, which showed Heglig and portions of other disputed areas falling on his side of the border.

Amum said AU talks in Addis Ababa would continue on June 19 but there was no immediate confirmation from Sudan.   Continued...