Sudan’s al-Bashir opens South Sudan border

By Bahram Abdel-Moneim

KHARTOUM (AA) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Tuesday announced his decision to open the border with South Sudan with a view to facilitating human and commercial traffic.

“We will stand by you [i.e., the people of South Sudan] and will not squander any chance to achieve peace in your country,” al-Bashir said during ongoing talks in Khartoum between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar.

“South Sudanese refugees face exceptional circumstances,” he added. “We will do everything in our power to support them and ease their suffering.”

Kiir and Machar are now expected to meet in Mauritania early next month in hopes of reaching a peace deal and ending South Sudan’s destructive civil war.

South Sudan descended into war in late 2013 when Kiir accused Machar, his former vice president, of plotting a coup against him -- allegations denied by Machar.