Border trade between Sudan and the South to resume after the end of B. Nile and S. Kordofan conflict

October 10, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — The trading activities between Sudan and South Sudan will resume after the settlement of Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan, Khartoum said in a meeting held during the visit of President Salva Kiir to Khartoum during the week end.

South Sudan minister of commerce Garang Diing Akuong told Alray Alamm daily newspaper that the Sudanese government linked between the resumption of border trade between the neighboring states in the two countries and the end of war in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan.

“Even in the states where there is no troubles border trade has been halted because Khartoum government linked the flow of trade to the improvement of (security) situation in the states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan”, Garang said.

Sudanese government reserved a warm welcome to the South Sudan President Salva Kiir during his first visit to Khartoum as head of the newly independent state. However the parties didn’t finalize any agreement on the post independence issues but agreed to hold new meetings in Juba on 18 October.

Khartoum shut down the border trading activities after accusing Juba of supporting the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North which fights against the Sudanese army since last June in Southern Kordofan.

The halt of trade hit sharply the economic situation in the Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal provinces which have been relying on the north for economic activities. The rise of prices pushed students to protest last week in Wau. But also northern traders were affected by the measure because they are deprived from their markets.

Minister Garang further underscored that there is no troubles in Sennar and the White Nile states and business activities can resume but such decision can only be taken by the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum.

He said President Bashir directed to put Port Sudan at the disposal of the South Sudanese government for the import and export of its goods but the halt of trade will hinder the implementation of this directive.

He further distanced his government form the SPLM-N rebellion in the two states saying it is an internal affair and the South Sudan would not seek to mediate unless Khartoum formulate such demand.

The two countries agreed to conclude the talks on all the pending issues and bilateral cooperation before the end of the month and to submit the outcome of the talks to the presidency in the two country for the arbitrage.

Sudanese government refuses any foreign mediation to settle the conflict with the SPLM-N and stipulate that the rebel movement should be disarmed before talks on the implementation of the popular consultation. While the SPLM-N says they are now working on regime change and rejects Khartoum’s conditions.

(ST)