JUBA
Sudan and South Sudan agreed on Tuesday to open eight crossings along their joint border to boost travel and trade after a deadlock in relations between the two states.
Sudan's Minister of Defense General Abdel Rahim Muhammed Hussein and South Sudan's Minister of Water Sources and Irrigation Paul Mayom Akec signed the agreement in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
Akec expressed his gratitude to South Africa's former President Thabo Mbeki for his mediation efforts at a press conference held following the signing ceremony.
Hussein emphasized that the agreement marked the the beginning of a new era between the two states and underlined their efforts to establish flexible cross-border relations.
President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit also said they would stick to the agreement no matter what and would not get into war with Sudan again.
Sudan and South Sudan had signed a cooperation agreement September last year addressing the problems faced following the Sudan-South Sudan apartheid including oil production, security arrangements, the demarcation of borders, the status of people living across borders, trade, economics and pensions.
