Authorities in South Sudan and Sudan said they plan to open four border crossings as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in August last year.

Sudan had closed much of its border after South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

Last year, Sudan and South Sudan agreed to open 11 border crossings along their common border to boost trade and allow movement of communities on both sides.

Gen. John Akot, South Sudan’s Director General of Passports, Nationality and Immigration, told reporters last week that the move followed a visit by South Sudan’s police delegation to Joda border crossing in Sudan’s White Nile State.

He said South Sudan’s Inspector General of Police, Majak Akec Malok accompanied by Sudan’s Deputy Director General of Police, Lt. General Osman Yunis led the delegation that visited White Nile State.

However, Akot clarified that last week’s visit had nothing to do with the border demarcation process between the two countries, pointing out that the border demarcation issue was a political affair.

He said the visit to Joda checkpoint was to determine whether the existing police units were ready to offer services to the citizens and open Meiram-Awiel, Buram-Raja, Joda-Renk and Kosti-Renk border crossings.

Akot lauded the relations between communities living along the borders of Sudan and South Sudan.

For his part, the caretaker military governor of White Nile State, Major General Haider Ali Al-Tirefi said the four border crossings would revive border trade and combat all forms of smuggling.