Traders demand South Sudan return property

Sudanese traders have renewed their demand to the Sudanese government and Parliament to help recover their property confiscated in South Sudan.

On Sunday, traders gathered in front of the National Parliament in Khartoum to submit a memorandum. They complain about the government’s disregard for their demands, and repeated their call to exert pressure on Juba and issue Court Orders there for the recovery of their goods that were confiscated by South Sudanese officials.

“The government and legislative apparatus should take responsibility for the recovery of our goods,” they said, claiming the value of the confiscated property amounts to $20 million.

“We have sought refuge in the Parliament after knocking the doors of all relevant government institutions, to no avail.”

The traders also submitted a formal complaint to the Committee of Justice and Legislation in the Parliament, pointing to the difficult financial situation they are in after they have lost their goods in South Sudan.

Border

This year, Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir announced the reopening of borders with South Sudan for the first time officially since the independence of South Sudan in 2011. Traders crossing from Sudan had previously feared heavy taxes imposed on goods smuggled into South Sudan.

Ibrahim Mahmoud, aide to President Al Bashir threatened to close the border again in March after accusing Juba of supporting the Sudanese rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.