Jan 5, 2006 (AL-GADARIF, eastern Sudan) — The armed forces in Al-Gadarif State have taken up position in agricultural areas on the border strip east of Al-Atbarawi River in the areas south of Daglash Mountain and east of Sundus and Al-Allaw.

Governor of Al-Gadarif State Abdelrahman al-Khedir said the deployment of the armed forces was ensure stability on the border strip during the re-demarcation of the joint border between Sudan and Ethiopia.

Last week, a new Sudanese organization called The Fashaqah Lands Liberation Organization (FLO) has presented a statement to the head of the legislative council in Al-Qadarif State in which it criticized the Al-Fashaqah agricultural lands agreement signed between the Sudanese and Ethiopian governments.

FLO’s statement called on the state’s youth to come out and volunteer to liberate the occupied Fashaqah lands.

According to the Sudanese Al-Khartoum newspaper, The governor pointed out that the agreement reached in Gondor, Ethiopia, between the two sides with no intervention by any foreign sides, would lead to stability for both Sudanese and Ethiopian farmers equally.

Al-Khedir said the 10m dollars total cost of re-demarcation would be shared equally between the two sides. The process of demarcation is due to be completed within the year.

The governor further stressed that the government would not relinquish any inch of Sudanese agricultural land lying within its borders.

In indication to the Fashaqah agricultural lands which are the centre of a controversy between farmers in both countries, he said some Ethiopian farmers would be allowed to cultivate Sudanese lands as an investment according to clear investment conditions.

(ST)