JUBA – Sudanese cross-border traders in Juba have welcomed the planned reopening of borders between South Sudan and Sudan saying it will relieve the cost of transporting goods through the porous border points.
It is 11 years since Sudan’s government closed its borders with South Sudan. However, this may soon come to an end should an agreement between the two countries be effected.
Last week, President Salva Kiir and the Sudanese Prime Minister, Dr. Abdallah Hamdok on Saturday agreed to reopen four border points effective on October 1, following a two-day discussion where they reviewed the cooperation agreement signed in 2012.
Borders of Western Bahr El-Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, and the Unity States shall all be re-opened in a bid to boost trade and free movement of the citizens.
A Sudanese trader at Juba’s Konyo-Konyo market who refused to be named said reopening the borders will boost trade and people’s movement between the two countries.
The source said he has been relying on trucks for transporting his goods from Sudan which he said normally takes longer for him to reach Juba and is costly because they have to maneuver through many States.
Hopes revived
“The agreement is good especially when the borders are reopened; it will allow us to transport our goods through river transport because the boats are very fast and can carry a lot of things. But also, if they allow cargo planes to import, then we shall receive our goods within a day,” the trader told the City Review in an interview yesterday.
Abdulaziz Mustafa, a staff working with Al Watania Company Limited, said they did not have any challenge in transporting goods from Sudan to South Sudan although the borders remain closed.
However, he welcomed the trade cooperation signed by the two countries which he said would allow them to transport more goods.
“We don’t have a problem importing goods from Sudan to South Sudan but the reopening of the borders between the two countries will help us much,” Mustafa said.
Among the cooperation agreements signed by the two countries include, reviewing and implementing cooperations throughout ministries of foreign affairs, the opening of border crossing posts in Jebeleen-Renk, Meiriam, Buram-Tumsah, and Kharsana-Panakuac, and setting up economic free zones and transit arrangements.
Juba and Khartoum also agreed on resumption of cargo and passenger movements by land, river, and railways and removal of all barriers hindering bank transactions and opening of branches in both countries among other agreements.
The first six years of South Sudan’s independence witnessed poor relations with Sudan under the regime of former President Omar Bashir with both countries accusing each other of harboring rebel groups.
However, the relation between South Sudan and Sudan has significantly improved since former Sudanese president Bashir was ousted from power in 2019.
In September 2019, when Dr. Abdalla Hamdok made his first official visit to Juba after taking over from former President Omar Hassan Al-Basir, agreed to implement all the outstanding issues in the 2012 cooperation agreement which has not materialized to date.
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