Traders rejoice as South Sudan, Sudan border reopens

By Hou Akot Hou

People in Northern Bahr El Gazal state are excited and relieved after the border with neighboring Sudan reopened last week.

 John Gau Diing, who is the Acting Chairperson of the traders’ Union in the state, told Juba Echo he saw nine trucks arriving from Sudan with goods such as sorghum, flour, sugar and chairs among others.

The nine vehicles came from Dheen area in Sudan, through Kiir-adem, Aweil North County up to Aweil town.

 “This is going to be a great boost for the local population, if goods come from Sudan and East African countries then prices of commodities will reduce,” said Gau.

He said in the past seven months they have been experiencing shortage of essential goods such as sugar, sorghum and maize flour amid soaring prices.

“Things have been tough as a result of roads being made impassable by floods, we are now hoping for things to improve in the lives of our citizens,” said Gau.

Nyanut Garang, a tea seller in the Aweil market said prices of  sorghum and other essential goods have for a while been very expensive.

She hopes from now the prices will begin to reduce due to the reopening of the border with Sudan.

 “Our people now are beginning to be happy once again, there is light at the end of the tunnel as one can just do anything to earn money and get 3.6 kg of sorghum at affordable price,” said Garang.

The border between South Sudan and Sudan continues to be disputed between the two former civil war foes.

The two countries share the longest undemarcated border line in Africa.