Northern Bahr el Ghazal governor in Sudan for border talks
July 1, 2022 (JUBA)- South Sudan’s Northern Bahr El Ghazal State governor, Tong Akeen Ngor is in Sudan to discuss border issues between the two nations.
The visit, political observers say, represents an opportunity to enhance trade and movement of goods and services between the two sisterly countries.
Akeen, in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday, said he was in Khartoum to follow up on previous discussions held with Sudanese authorities on how the two sides should work together to expedite and regularize the movement of goods and services without any restrictions.
“I have returned to Khartoum again to meet the authorities. I had an appointment with the state governors and other institutions to harmonize our coordination on the movement of goods and services as well movement of people”, he explained.
The governor confirmed that several trucks have, in recent days, been exiting and entering Sudan and South Sudan without restriction on the way.
“There is no problem. Trucks carrying goods and people coming to Sudan and going to South Sudan have been smooth. But we want this to be regularized so that there are no delays on the way,” he stated.
Akeen said relations between both nations were “exceptionally excellent”.
“What is important first of all is the trust. You have to deal with the person you know. So, for me in my capacity as the governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal, these people in the positions of leadership are people I know. They worked together with me when as you know we were part of this great country before secession and so they know me and I know them.
The relations I have with the authorities are not something new. It is something we have established more than 30 or 40 years ago”, he revealed.
The official also confirmed that the Sudanese government has now fully reopened the border crossing with South Sudan after 11 years of closure.
Sudan abruptly closed the border in 2011 after a referendum on the self-determination of South Sudan resulted in secession after relations between the two major parties were characterized by hostile exchanges political statements loaded with threats and the eruption of a brief 2012 war when South Sudan army (SPLA) briefly seized the oil processing town of Heglig.
Khartoum accuses Juba of hosting its rebels, allegations the latter denies.
(ST)