Preparations Underway for Imminent Opening of Southern Border Crossing
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Saif Al-Nasr Al-Tijani Haroun announced preparations for the imminent opening of the Southern Border Crossing. He also revealed the submission of a comprehensive study on trade exchange between Sudan and South Sudan, the opening of a new border trade market serving the Sudanese Employers’ Federation, and plans to establish a free zone in Kosti dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of local products.
During a meeting on Thursday with a delegation from the Sudanese Transport Chambers Union—attended by Ministry Undersecretary Dr. Issam Hisabo and Director General of the Land Transport Unit Ahmed Hamed Hamza—the minister emphasized that the ministry’s policies and strategies are designed to serve investors, transporters, and consumers alike. He stressed that the Transport Chambers Union is a key partner in shaping laws and policies governing the sector.
The minister outlined efforts to expedite the approval of the Land Transport Law, establish effective mechanisms to combat arbitrary fees and levies, coordinate with neighboring countries to ensure reciprocity, organize a comprehensive workshop for transport chambers to address challenges and propose practical solutions, and implement road expansion and maintenance programs in line with international standards.
He noted that the transport sector is a cornerstone of Sudan’s economy but has been severely affected by the war, impacting exports and imports, reducing cargo volumes, and hindering movement in affected areas.
The Union presented several concerns, including the multiplicity and duplication of fees, slow and complex security permit procedures, weak protection for national carriers against foreign competition, lack of representation in relevant boards, inadequate services relative to taxes paid, problems at inland ports with fees imposed without services, failure to apply reciprocity with some countries, and delays in approving the Land Transport Law as a fundamental solution.
The Union stressed the importance of supporting refrigerated transport due to its critical role in transporting medicines and food exports, particularly via Suakin Port, amid continued maritime traffic between Suakin and Jeddah. It also highlighted Sudan’s strategic location, which positions it as a regional hub for transit transport, noting that routes through Sudan are among the least costly in the region.
The meeting concluded with emphasis on the approval of the Land Transport Law as the true gateway to resolving most sector challenges, alongside the ministry’s commitment to consider the Union’s recommendations and take decisions that serve the state and protect Sudanese investors and transport operators.
