By Staff writer
Fourth Tripartite Technical Boundary Committee (TTBC) meeting, involving South Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda, took place from December 17 to 19, 2024.
The purpose of the meeting was to review the agreements made during previous tripartite meetings held in December 2019, September 2021, and December 2021. The committee aimed to revise the work plans and budget necessary for establishing the tri-junction point and to agree on a commencement date for the reaffirmation of this point among the three countries.
The Ugandan delegation was led by Ms. Jacqueline W. Banana, Acting Head of the Department of Regional Peace and Security.
The Kenyan delegation was headed by Ms. Juster Nkoroi, Head of the Kenya International Boundaries Office (KIBO), while the South Sudan delegation was led by Hon. Dr. David Nailo Mayo, Chairperson of South Sudan’s Transboundary Committee.
The meeting was officially opened by Mr. Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who highlighted the importance of finalizing and implementing the previously agreed-upon modalities for the tri-junction boundary point between Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan.
Bagiire stressed the importance of border re-affirmation and demarcation given its far-reaching implications for regional stability, cooperation, and development.
He added that the tri-junction is a vital geographical and political point, which once established, will help mitigate conflicts orchestrated by historical clashes that have arisen from disputes over unclear boundaries.
“The three nations are bound together not only by geography but by shared heritage, language, customs and norms including having mutual interests in trade, security and development,” he said.
Mr. Bagiire expressed his gratitude to the African Union Border Programme (AUBP), the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the East African Community (EAC) who have continued to facilitate the border activities through provision of equipment, funds and technical capacity building.
The partners have also contributed to the sensitization drives that have been key in getting the border communities and their leadership on board in support of the border demarcation activities; he said.
In her opening remarks, head of Uganda’s delegation, Ms. Jacqueline W. Banana, welcomed all delegates to Kampala Capital City and reminded the meeting that, 3 Tripartite meetings had been held before and all funded by the African Union.
Expressing gratitude to the partners, who supported several activities related to the demarcation of the tri-junction, she stated that the three meetings had discussed and agreed on modalities including the required budget and work plan.
In her remarks, the Head of Delegation of Republic of Kenya, Ms Juster Nkoroi noted that the three countries have successfully implemented all activities of the establishment of the tri-junction and these included seven sensitization exercises which included the High-level Ateker leaders meeting held in Moroto in November 2024 and Peace Caravan, including bench-marking tours in July 2023.
She informed the meeting that the Republic of Kenya is committed and ready to implement the MOUs on reaffirmation, delimitation and demarcation of her respective boundaries with Uganda and South Sudan in order to comply with the AU deadline of 2027.
The Head of Delegation of the Republic of South Sudan, Hon. Dr. David Nailo Mayo, reminded the meeting that the AU Border Programme since its creation in 2007 had been working diligently on border matters and their assistance was enormous especially in supporting delegates to border meetings.
The Tripartite meeting ended with the signing of the Report of the Kenya-South Sudan-Uganda Tripartite Technical Boundary Committee Meeting on the establishment of the Tri-junction at Golden Tulip Hotel, Kampala.