Transport Minister of Sudan and South Sudan Presidential Adviser on Security Affairs on the 4th of July, agreed to open four border crossing points between the two countries within the next few days. The agreement was announced by the two officials following a meeting held in Khartoum, to discuss the implementation of directives of President Al-Bashir to open border with South Sudan after the signing of Khartoum Declaration of Agreement on the 27th of June.
The decision is part of the measures he announced recently to encourage the South Sudanese parties to implement a peace agreement they signed in August 2015. He said it would facilitate the movement of citizens and the flow of trade between the two countries.
Tut Galuwak, the adviser to President Al-Bashir, told reporters that they discussed the border opening and he asked to open all the crossing points as soon as possible to encourage trade between the two sides on the border.
Minister Makawi expressed the readiness of his government to implement the directives of President al-Bashir. The decision includes road, rail and Nile River crossing points. The four crossing corridors include, Kosti-Renk road and river, Meriam – Aweil, rails and road, Heglig-Bentiu, and Al Sumayyah corridors.
Following the South Sudan independence, President al-Bashir ordered the border closure accusing Juba of backing Sudanese rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. However, the decision didn’t trade between the two sides as the border areas from both sides historically had strong trade relations.
