Citizens welcome border opening

Citizens of the states of East, South Darfur and South Kordofan have welcomed the full opening of the borders and river crossings between Sudan and South Sudan, they told Radio Dabanga on Wednesday, 10 October. This decision follows the agreement signed between Sudan and South Sudan in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, on 27 September. In the interview, a number of citizens said they believe this decision will reflect positively on their security, economy and social situations. They attributed these advantages to the direct link of interests citizens from both sides of the border share, stressing that they associate themselves more with South Sudan than with Sudan. Citizens explained that herders of East and South Darfur and of South Kordofan spend about seven months in South Sudan. Besides, they said that thousands of merchants of these states almost exclusively trade with merchants from South Sudan. Bitterness On the other hand, these citizens also spoke negatively about groups that oppose the agreement, calling them “war dealers, hatred advocates, racists and investors in the suffering of the people”. They also noted that the opposition groups have not lived the bitterness and tragedies of war and do not know the reality of their lives and interests associated with the state of South Sudan. The Sudanese Ambassador to South Sudan, Dr. Mutrif Alsiddiq, announced that President Al-Bashir issued orders to fully open Sudan’s borders and all river crossings with South Sudan, to deliver all that is required from Khartoum to Juba. Mutrif Alsiddiq, who left Khartoum on Monday to Juba to receive details of the tasks for his new job, affirmed that the roof of cooperation between the two countries is unlimited.He added that he is carrying a letter from President Al-Bashir to his counterpart Salva Kiir emphasizing Sudan’s keenness to implement what has been agreed upon in Addis Ababa.