Bashir orders opening of border with South Sudan

January 27, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Wednesday has ordered to open joint border with the neighbouring South Sudan .

The official news agency SUNA reported that the Bashir has issued a presidential decree ordering to open the border with the South Sudan and “directed the concerned authorities to take all the necessary measures for the implementation of this decision on the ground”.

Sudan closed its border with the South Sudan in June 2011, one month before the formal declaration of independence.

At the time, the decision interved days after the start of a rebellion in the South Kordofan by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N). Khartoum accused Juba of supporting the former members of the ruling party in South Sudan.

Last week, Bashir directed to reduce the transit fees for the oil produced in South Sudan. On Monday, President Salva Kiir responded by ordering his army to withdraw from border with Sudan to 5 miles [8km].

Kiir further disclosed that he had dispatched a personal special envoy to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to convey to President al-Bashir his desire to normalise ties with Sudan.

Kiir also predicted that Bashir would direct to open the joint borders for communications, trade and relationship between the peoples of the two, once one, but split nations.

Last November the two countries agreed to reactivate the safe border demilitarized zone agreed on 27 September 2012 and to deploy the UNISFA supported joint monitoring force..

In the past, Khartoum refused to open the border, asking Juba to implement the security agreement and to stop its support to Sudanese rebel groups.

(ST)