Three days of joint talks between Sudan and South Sudan on issues of transport and roads have resulted in an agreement on reopening river navigation between White Nile and Upper Nile.

The two sides have also discussed reopening the railway line between Babanusa in West Kordofan and Wau in Western Bahr al Ghazal.

A source told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that the two sides agreed to resume river navigation and land transport between the two countries with emphasis on implementation by November.

The Acting Undersecretary for Sudan’s Transport Ministry Seraj Hamid confirmed their commitment to operate a railway line between the two mentioned towns and plans to rehabilitate the railway in collaboration with South Sudan’s government.

He said that about 246 vessels are available to resume river navigation for goods export and movement of passengers.

The official announced that border crossings and duty-free shops along the Sudan-South Sudan border will be opened up in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment.

However, Hamid urged South Sudan to protect the ports and other infrastructure to ensure that transport continues smoothly between the two Sudans.

For its part, the visiting South Sudanese delegation promised to provide all the necessary funds needed and remove all the hurdles hindering the transport sector in South Sudan, according to the same source.  ‫                                                   

This report comes after South Sudan’s Minister of Roads and Bridges Kuong Danhier Galuak led a ministerial delegation to Khartoum on 23 September where he discussed issues of transport and roads with his Sudanese counterpart.