Economic experts in Sudan and South Sudan says it is difficult to resume border trade between Khartoum and Juba amid the weakening local South Sudanese Pound and insecurity at the border due to continued fighting in the south.
President Omar al-Bashir ordered the opening of Sudan’s southern border in January of this year.
Al-Haj Hamad Mohammed, executive director of the Consultative Group for Development, told Radio Tamazuj the decision to open the border between Khartoum and Juba for trade is difficult to implement because Sudanese are wary about investing in the south due to economic volatility and fighting.
He said these factors are hampering resumption of border trade despite improved relations between the two countries.
For his part, the Dean of Faculty of Economics at the University of Juba Dr. Marial Awou said the economic situation in South Sudan is deteriorating following the recent action taken by the Central Bank of South Sudan to float the rate of local currency against the dollar which has led to significant price rises.
He called on the government to reverse the decision to sell dollars to commercial banks in South Sudan.
Meanwhile, South Sudanese parliamentarians have called for the removal of the economic committee in the national assembly due to the deteriorating of the economic situation in the country.
They summoned the governor of the Central Bank and the Minister of Finance to explain the current economic situation in the country.
The Chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Festus Mogae said last week that South Sudan needs to undertake economic reforms on its own and not expect salvation from outside donors or partners.