Citizens and traders in Sudan’s South Kordofan, West Kordofan and East Darfur States which lie on the border with South Sudan have welcomed President Omar al-Bashir’s decision to reopen borders with the country's southern neighbour.

In interviews conducted by Radio Tamazuj, the people in the border states expressed happiness about the decision, hoping that it would make border trade flourish with South Sudan and benefit both peoples.

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Wednesday ordered the opening of his country's border with South Sudan for the first time since South Sudan's secession in 2011.

For his part, Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan's government spokesman, said the reopening of the border would boost economic ties. In a press statement, Makuei said this decision is a step in the right direction that will lead to the normalization of relations between the two countries.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir had unilaterally announced a normalisation of relations on Tuesday, also ordering troops to pull back farther from the border. Both countries had previously accused the other of backing armed rebellions against each other's governments.

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