General Abdel Fattah al Burhan controlled authorities and South Sudan agreed Tuesday to establish a free trade zone at Port Sudan to boost oil flows and bilateral commerce. The deal was announced after a four-day visit to Sudan by a South Sudanese delegation led by presidential adviser Tut Gatluak Manime.
In a joint statement, both sides said the Port Sudan free zone would facilitate oil imports, exports, and wider trade. Officials described the talks as fruitful, aimed at deepening cooperation, consultation, and coordination across critical oil-sector operations.
The agreement includes securing, operating, and managing oilfields in the Heglig and Bamboo areas of West Kordofan state. Both countries also committed to activating joint committees and expanding strategic partnerships in political, diplomatic, and economic arenas.
They agreed to exchange support in regional and international forums, strengthening coordination amid shifting geopolitical pressures. The statement also highlighted plans to enhance banking and financial channels to support stability and peace in both nations.
South Sudan’s oil currently travels through a Sudanese pipeline beginning in Heglig, a region producing half of Sudan’s crude output. The 1,610-kilometre pipeline crosses multiple processing stations before reaching Bashayer Port on the Red Sea coast.
Last week, Rapid Support Forces seized the Heglig oilfield as fighting with Burhan’s army intensified. The conflict, raging since April 2023, has killed thousands and displaced millions, casting a long shadow over regional stability.
