A leading member of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Lual Achuek Deng said there is need to initiate development projects along the Sudan-South Sudan border.

Speaking at a forum organized by Faculty of Arts in Khartoum University on Monday, Lual Deng, who is a former petroleum minister in Khartoum, said nearly 43% of South Sudanese and nearly 36% Sudanese live along the border area.

He called for the establishment of a development bank to serve the huge population living in the area.

Deng pointed out that the future relations of the two Sudans heavily depend on development of the border region and that a development bank is important to serve the people in the area as well as facilitate development.

The former minister noted that peace along the border is possible and depends on a political will from both governments, adding that oil as a source of income has fuelled conflicts between the two nations.