South Sudan and Sudan have agreed to strengthen border crossing movement between the two countries to facilitate trade and movement of people.
If implemented, it would not only help the two sides to implement the 2012 cooperation agreement but represent key priorities for Africa as two complementary aspects of continental integration, as recognized by the African Union’s Agenda 2063 which advocates continental integration through removing barriers to trade.
The AU’s agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has focused on the importance of eliminating barriers to foster regional trade to create a single continental market for goods and services for some 1.3 billion people in 55 countries.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the government of South Sudan says it is working with the state authorities to help in the implementation of the vision of “Secure cross border social, economic, and commercial activities” as part of the efforts to facilitate trade and human mobility in view of fostering regional prosperity through the establishment of legally recognized and security-controlled cross Border Posts.
As a key milestone in the governance of the project, IOM in partnership with the state and local authorities seeks to support the bilateral meeting of the joint political security mechanism Committee between Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, with the participation of representatives from the European Union, United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission for Sudan (UNITAMS), an integrated political and peacebuilding mission and other parties supporting security and the peace process in the two countries.
The inspector general of police in south Sudan Gen Majak Akech hailed the visit and meeting between the heads of security organs, saying the meeting was meant to provide strategic guidance and lead to a full-fledged operationalization of the cross-Border Posts to facilitate trade and movement of the people
Such a visit, he emphasized, is aimed at strengthening the economic integration and social cohesion among cross-border communities in south Sudan and Sudan, through the implementation of an Integrated Border Management (IBM) approach, facilitated by improved infrastructure, including the construction of relevant border facilities comprising cross Border Post at the Point of Entry (PoE), as well as support to the establishment of common border management mechanisms and procedures.
The executive director in the office of south Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Deng Wal Achien also explained that the meeting had discussed the bilateral agreement that will govern the cross-Border Point operationalization and provided guidance on the future common procedures. After the meeting, Joint Committee members are expected to visit the border areas, where the authorities of south Sudan and Sudan had established infrastructures.
Achien said the effort would secure cross-Border Social, Economic and Commercial activities between the two countries in fulfillment of the African Union Agenda 2063.
“The Government of South Sudan encourages this initiative to build border posts. Once operational, this infrastructure will allow the implementation of a bilateral approach to integrated management and will make trade operations more fluid,” explained Achien.
The presidential aide said well-managed borders would, through increased trade and strengthened bonds, bring prosperity to countries, populations and the entire regions.
“The initiative would also promote seamless trade and human mobility between South Sudan and Sudan has enormous potential for the development of the region,” stressed Achien.
He added, “This initiative will consolidate the socio-economic relationships of border communities in the areas on the one hand and enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the 2012 Cooperation Agreement.
The 2012 Cooperation Agreement identified eight cross-border points as critical geographical locations at which border crossing points could be set up due to their importance as a trade and transport corridor and the daily movement of the cross-border communities, who cross the border between south Sudan and Sudan in search of employment, business opportunities, and health care.
Source: Sudan Tribune