Sudan, South Sudan: Border Dispute a Protracted but Limited Conflict

Sudan and South Sudan agreed to a cease-fire during African Union-led negotiations in Ethiopia on April 4. The agreement follows cross-border attacks between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), a South Sudanese militia group, on March 25-27 and on April 1. The attacks took place along the oil-rich border between South Sudan's Unity state and Sudan's South Kordofan state.

The two countries have been working to negotiate cooperation agreements since South Sudan became an independent state in July 2011. But deeply contentious issues, including border demarcation, continue to provoke intermittent conflict. While the border issue may trigger renewed conflict in the future, military, economic and political constraints will prevent this issue from evolving into a larger conflict.