Security officials in Sudan’s Blue Nile State on Friday released seven employees of South Sudan’s Finance ministry detained since October, an official said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Northern Upper Nile State Information minister, Santino Nyuan said those freed included tax officials and police escorts who were arrested by Sudanese security agents in the border town of Adham in October.

He further said security authorities in Blue Nile State released the South Sudan nationals in exchange for five of their soldiers arrested by Northern Upper Nile authorities last month.

Nyuan pointed out that the process of releasing the detainees was based on directives of senior leaders from both countries, adding that there were contacts at the level of the two states on the release of prisoners.

Despite the occasional chaos, relations between Blue Nile State and Northern Upper Nile State will remain strong, he stressed.

Sudan and South Sudan have recently indicated they are willing to deepen cooperation and promote bilateral ties, after a legacy of unstable relations between both nations since 2011.