Wüstenschiff

Sudanese government has again on Tuesday closed its borders with South Sudan, just a week after Khartoum threatened to treat South Sudanese in Sudan as foreigners. On Tuesday, South Sudan’s Renk county commissioner in West Nile state, (former Upper Nile sate), Stephen Chan Aluong, said his county has officially received a message from the White Nile state governor of Sudan that the national government has issued a directive ending cross border movement with the neighbouring South Sudan. "It is very clear that the closing directives were issued by Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir and given as a directive of action to White Nile governor,” Aluong told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday. “Even people who are taking their relatives to hospitals in Sudan have been stopped from crossing the border by border Sudanese authorities,” he said. Sudan threatened two weeks ago to close the border, stop medical and education incentives South Sudanese enjoys in north and treat them as foreigners over charges that Juba continues to support Sudanese rebels. South Sudan has denied this allegation and insists on dialogue as the way to resolve the differences.

Sudan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce on Friday said three border crossing points with South Sudan would be opened soon. Musa Karama said Khartoum and Juba are making the final touches to open 3 border crossing points, saying all arrangements at Joda border point in the White Nile State has been made. He pointed out that activation of trade with South Sudan would increase the balance of trade, saying the government seeks to establish a free trade zone at the border to exchange benefits in agriculture, industry and border trade.

Sudan’s State Minister of International Trade Abu al-Bishr Abdel-Rahman on Sunday said the border crossing points with Chad and South Sudan would be re-opened soon [...] a delegation from his ministry would visit three border states including North Darfur, West Darfur and White Nile next month to sign agreements with the neighbouring countries to activate border trade and curb smuggling [...] the Sudanese government said all security and economic arrangements to open border crossing points with South Sudan have been completed.

Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to open the border crossing points agreed between the countries within a month besides activating the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ). The agreement came during the meeting of the Joint Political and Security Committee (JPSC) between the two countries on Monday in Khartoum. In press statements following the meeting, Sudan Army’s Chief of General Staff Kamal Abdel-Marouf said the meeting also agreed to form joint teams under the auspices of UNISFA to ensure none presence of military forces from both countries on the SBDZ [...] He said the opening of the crossing points would enhance relations and promotes security and stability in the two countries, pointing to its economic importance particularly in light of the difficult economic situation in both countries.

The Sudanese Minister of Trade Ali Gedo Friday announced the reopening of the border and resumption of trade with South Sudan on the first of next October. In a separate meeting, South Sudan’s Vice President Taban Deng Gai said he agreed with Hamdok to link the two countries by the roads and railways [...] Vice-President Taban on Friday discussed with Hamdok the infrastructure programme including the construction of highways in South Sudan particularly Juba- Bor- Ayod -Renk road, Bentiu -Hegleg road and Abyei-Muglad as well as Aweil- Meram route. The four roads will serve to link the two countries and facilitate goods movement between north and South Sudan. Gai highlighted the need to expedite the opening of these corridors linking the two countries as a priority, saying it was mutually agreed that the development of the railway line connecting Babanusa and Wau was also of critical importance for trade, industry, and travel between our two nations.

• Jebeleen – Renk
• Meiram
• Buram - Tumsah
• Kharsana - Panakuac