Kenya and South Sudan are locked in a brewing border row amid claims of encroachment that could threaten diplomatic ties between the two countries.
In a move to register their protest, South Sudan's government summoned Kenya’s ambassador to Juba Samwel Nandwa on Wednesday, February 8, to discuss the border issue.
South Sudanese living along the border are said to have reported seeing convoys of Kenyan security officers inside the country’s territory.
Youth drawn from the Toposa community of South Sudan demonstrated against the alleged encroachment on their land, calling on the Silva Kiir’s government to address the issue.
Juba, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, noted the youngest country in Africa is, however, pursuing a diplomatic solution to the issue that is now threatening diplomatic ties between Nairobi and Juba.
“Hon Mayiik Ayii Deng met with the Kenyan Ambassador to South Sudan (Samuel Nandwa) to discuss areas of mutual concern," read part of the statement from the ministry.
"Issues concerning our mutual border were raised,” the statement further clarified.
This came a day after Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria delivered a special message from President William Ruto to his counterpart Salva Kiir in the country’s capital, Juba.
Kenya and South Sudan share a no-mans-land of about 14,000 square kilometers along the borderline, an area that is sparsely occupied.
The area, called Elemi, is said to be rich in oil.
In 2012, Tullow oil discovered oil deposits in Turkana, an area not too far from the border that is raising temperatures between Nairobi and Juba.
In 2009, both Kenya and South Sudan agreed to set up a joint team of experts that would help the two countries in marking the borderline that Juba had inherited from the Khartoum government.
