Sudan moves to reopen key trade border with South Sudan

August 2, 2025 (ٍKOSTI) – Officials in Sudan’s White Nile state on Saturday discussed plans to reopen border crossings with South Sudan to resume commercial trade that was largely stalled after a 2021 military coup.

The governor of White Nile state, Qamar al-Din Mohamed Fadlallah, met with Yasir Mohamed Osman, the director of the Sovereignty Council’s administration for crossings, to finalise arrangements.

“The meeting discussed the technical and administrative arrangements to establish border trade outlets in White Nile state to resume commercial activity with the state of South Sudan,” Fadlallah said in a press statement.

He added that the goal was to “maximise mutual benefits and combat cross-border smuggling.”

Fadlallah said the state government is working to establish a commercial crossing in the Jouda area of Al-Jabalain locality. A delegation is scheduled to visit the proposed site on Sunday to assess how the outlet can be created, he said.

Osman, the national crossings director, said the initiative was part of a broader state plan to enhance regional cooperation and revive economic activity through the country’s various border points.

Relations between Khartoum and Juba had improved significantly after the 2019 ousting of former President Omer al-Bashir, leading to agreements on border demarcation and trade.

A subsequent civilian-led government succeeded in resuming river transport between the two nations after an 11-year halt and had made arrangements to restart trade at the Jouda crossing. The October 2021 military coup disrupted those plans, though the crossing has remained open for pedestrian travel.