Traders and authorities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Kordofan and East Darfur are looking to re-open a common market at Warawar. The opening ceremony began just days after six traders from South Kordofan were killed on the road between Warawar and Meiram, dampening expectations.
On Tuesday morning an opening ceremony was held by the Minister of Youth and Sport Tong Deng Anei, plus the acting commissioner and the officer in charge of customs at the market, Manut Yel Lual.
The customs officer in a speech expressed regret for what happened to the northern traders, who were shot dead while traveling by car and tractor southward to the market. He said that the people who did the shooting have been caught and are now in prison.
He added that he spoke by phone with Missiriya leaders in Meiram, who will send a delegation in the coming days concerning the murders that occurred on the road. He said that this issue will be ‘solved’ and the road will be opened.
It is not clear, however, whether the authorities intend to treat the shooting as a murder case or possibly to make a restorative payment according to custom and to the tribal agreements. Manut Yel Lual suggested that the shooting was an accident: “The six traders were coming to South Sudan where no one knew of their coming. When they reached to the south of the River Kiir with tractors and a car, we didn’t know what was there.”
The market administrator also explained that the market has been closed since the problems last April between Sudan and South Sudan. During the crisis the president of Sudan declared a state of emergency in the border states and closed roads leading south.
But he pointed to recent preparations by the authorities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Meiram area and East Darfur to conduct joint market activity in Warawar in the wake of the Cooperation Agreement signed late September.
The market is currently open but still only stocks goods brought through South Sudan. Trade with the north is expected by next Monday, according to Manut.
Related:
Six northern traders dead near Warawar (13 November 2012)
Three northern traders murdered in Aweil East (11 June 2012)