Unity state traders call for reopening of border between two Sudans
May 14, 2013 (BENTIU) – Sudanese traders in South Sudan’s Unity state have called on authorities in both countries – that split nearly two years ago – to fully implement agreements to open various border points along the tense new international border.
A north Sudanese trader from Darfur told Sudan Tribune if the border was opened trade could increase and benefit communities on both sides of the border.
Adam Ahmed, who acts as a spokesperson for Sudanese traders in the state capital Bentiu and Rubkotna county, says there are over 100 northern traders in Unity state.
Ahmed said Sudanese traders had hoped that last month’s agreement to implement a cooperation deal signed last September would lead to smoother cross-border trade.
The Khartoum government has prevented trade into South Sudan for most of the nascent country’s independence, with the vice-president warning that traders caught trying to cross the border would be shot.
In April, officials from the two nations announced the immediate reopening of 10 check points along the still-to-be finalised north-south border.
The resumption of oil production last month had raised hopes that border posts would be reopened to allow freedom of movement between Sudan and South Sudan. However, this has been complicated by renewed allegations of support for rebel groups either side of the border and the killing of a tribal leader in the disputed Abyei area earlier this month.
Unity state’s deputy governor, Michael Chiengjiek Geay, said on Tuesday that the Heglig route will be reopened when the two sides have built up further trust on security issues.
“As the fact remains that the sensitivity of the border with our neighbour Sudan needs proper modalities before we could officially allow goods from other side cross borders”, added the deputy governor.
Geay, who is also the state’s minister of local government and laws enforcement, said that there is a need to engage both authorities in South Kordofan and Unity state to discuss border crossing matters and to station police along the border to improve security.
Sudanese traders complain of heavy taxes even after that have smuggled goods into South Sudan. Ahmed said that levies at road blocks cost him 40,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) to reach a town like Bentiu from the border.
South Sudan, which relies heavily on imports, has been forced to look more to East Africa since relations with Khartoum plummeted in January 2012 when oil exports through the north were stopped over a transit fee dispute.
(ST)