The leaders of South Sudan and Sudan have agreed to reopen border areas between the two countries to boost trade and the free movement of people, reported VOA News. Currently, several border areas in the two countries remain closed, including Kafiakinji in Raja in South Sudan, Heglig in South Sudan’s former Unity State, and El-Khurasana in Sudan’s Western Kordofan state.
After a meeting with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok on Thursday, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir said that his government would work closely with Khartoum. He said both governments have agreed to fully cooperate with each other to ensure peace and prosperity between the two countries.
“We will work together, we will work on the border issues soon between the two countries, and hopefully peace will come to Sudan and South Sudan,” Kiir said.
Sudanese Prime Minister Hamdok said they discussed wider areas of bilateral cooperation between South Sudan and Sudan.
“Our visit gave us a chance to discuss bilateral relations like trade and border issues, and we reached an understanding,” he said adding, “This understanding will lead to the benefit of the two nations.”
After decades of civil war, South Sudan got independence from Sudan in 2011. The two countries have since frequently accused each other of aiding rebels fighting against their governments.
During his two-day visit to Juba that ended Friday, Hamdok also met with the leaders of various Sudanese rebel groups including Aballah Aziz Hilu, the leader of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ending hostilities with the rebel groups.
The Sudanese government delegation and the rebel groups signed a declaration of principles in Juba and agreed to hold peace talks.
Notably, South Sudan will host a peace process in October between the armed groups in the border areas between the two countries including Darfur South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states.
