Sudan and South Sudan laid the foundation stone for the free trade zone in the area of Mokhaleef in El Jebelein locality in White Nile state on Tuesday, in a move designed to promote border trade between the two countries. At the same ceremony, the Kosti and El Jebelein free zones were inaugurated, as well as the resumption of river traffic the two countries.
It is hoped that the volume of annual trade exchange between the two countries in the near future will reach $3 billion.
During the inauguration ceremony, Sudan’s Defence Minister Maj Gen Yasin Ibrahim reported that the joint Sudanese-South Sudanese political security mechanism decided to open 10 border crossings between the two countries.
Finance Minister Heba Mohamed said that “the free trade zones, the foundation stone of which has been laid now, will provide many job opportunities for the residents of the region, and achieve great returns for the state treasury”.
She stated that the free zone in its first stage will concentrate on an industrial project for export products that White Nile state abounds in, and reiterated the transitional government’s affirmation to cooperation with South Sudan.
Free trade
Yesterday’s inauguration follows a meeting in the South Sudan capital of Juba on September 12[1] 2019, at which Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and South Sudan President Salva Kiir discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the opening of the borders between South Sudan and Sudan for free trade.
Last week, the Joint Boundary Demarcation Commission between Sudan and South Sudan signed the full delimitation of the boundaries[2] agreed upon between the two countries in the presence of the representative of the African Union Boundary Commission.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Friday, the head of the Sudanese border demarcation commission Moaaz Tengu, said that the work of the Commission has been going on for seven years and has held more than 120 meetings since 2005.
Two points remain to be resolved in the next meeting in Addis Ababa. The two countries are contesting the border areas of Abyei, commercial Kaka, Debbat El Fukhar, Jebel Megeines, the 14-mile area south of Bahr El Arab, Hafrat El Nukhas, and Kafia Kingi.
Abyei
Abyei, the still contested area between Sudan and South Sudan, is the traditional homeland of the Ngok Dinka, who have with strong ties with the South Sudanese Dinka tribe. Herders of the Misseriya, a northern Arab tribe, traverse Abyei and other North-South border areas with their cattle in search of water and pasture in the dry season and to trade goods.
The region witnessed a significant upsurge in cases of cattle rustling, hijacks, and other robberies earlier this year[3]. There is no government or police force in the area and a UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA[4]), is entrusted with overseeing demilitarisation and maintaining security in the area.
Radio Dabanga’s editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors, educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.[5]
References
- ^ meeting in the South Sudan capital of Juba on September 12 (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ full delimitation of the boundaries (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ earlier this year (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ UNISFA (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee. (www.geef.nl)
Newer articles:
- Accelerating the elimination of bilharzia in South Sudan amid the COVID-19 pandemic - 28/10/2020 23:57
- UN peacekeepers withdraw from South Sudan civilian protection sites - 28/10/2020 18:09
- South Sudan NGO Forum Statement on NGO Safety, Security and Hiring - 28/10/2020 13:12
- Egypt to Offer 400 University Scholarships to South Sudanese Students - 28/10/2020 09:33
- Photos: Miss South Sudan USA pageant brings out confidence, community - 28/10/2020 08:55
Older news items
- Court: Belgium violated human rights in Sudan migrant's case - 27/10/2020 14:15
- UNMISS peacekeepers provide free medicines to vulnerable people in Wau - 27/10/2020 13:18
- This image shows children taking a nap under a tree at a school in Nigeria, not in South Sudan - 27/10/2020 09:56
- Severe flooding in South Sudan and Ethiopia leaving people without adequate food, water or shelter - 27/10/2020 07:43
- Sudanese Nationals in Israel Fear Deportation after Peace Deal - 27/10/2020 02:48
Latest news items (all categories):
- علاقة عقيمة من طرف واحد - 12/04/2024 01:25
- Press Release - International poetry initiative seeks poems on African experiences of migration - 04/04/2024 23:28
- South Sudan oil revenue dwindles - 31/03/2024 00:46
- The decline of Equatoria and emergence of Jieng tribal power in South Sudan - 30/03/2024 23:10
- Both SPLM-IG's No-extension and SPLM-IO's Extension Proposals are all means for No 2024 Elections - 24/03/2024 23:14
Random articles (all categories):
- نظرة على نتيجة التعداد السكاني الأخير....وما وراء الخبر!.. - 22/04/2009 17:24
- South Sudan: Juba Cabinet Forms Committee On Boundaries of 28 States - 23/05/2016 05:25
- South Sudan: SPLM Launches Registration in Tonj East - 11/04/2023 04:43
- South Sudan accuses rebels of preparing assault on key town - 17/02/2014 14:50
- Kerry urges end to South Sudan fighting in meeting with senior official - 11/04/2014 04:19
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 30761 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 21840 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 20724 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 17205 times
- With prisons full, South Sudan to introduce mobile courts to clear backlog of cases - 11/10/2012 11:29 - Read 14195 times