Central African Republic, National Ink Transportation Protocols

27 May 2011

Khartoum — Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) on Thursday signed a number of transportation-related agreements to facilitate the use of Port Sudan seaport for CAR’s exports and imports, construction of railways between the two neighbors, and resumption of direct flights between Khartoum and Bangui.

The protocols were signed at the Burj al-Fatih Hotel in Sudan’s capital of Khartoum on Friday. The signing ceremony comes days after a tripartite summit las Monday gathering Chadian and Central African presidents and their Sudanese counterpart.

The summit agreed to establish a consultative mechanism of the three countries to deal with security issues, enhance the peaceful co-existence among joint tribes and encourage voluntary return of refugees.

The two visiting presidents also signed a number of bilateral accords dealing with joint economic projects. Sudan and Chad will cooperate in oil exploration and roads construction to link Chad with Port Sudan on the Red See.

The agreements between Bangui and Khartoum provide for the conduct of road transportation of commodities, establishment of a free-trade zone, utilization of facilities and sea ports in eastern Sudan for CAR’s exports and imports, as well as the construction of a railway from Khartoum to Bangui, running through Chad.

Meanwhile, CAR’s Minister of State for the Development of Transport, Lt-Col Parfait Anicet Mbaye, announced that direct flights between Khartoum and Bangui would resume in the next few days.

Mbaye said that Port Sudan seaport would provide CAR with many services which would enable it to market its exports and receive its imports.

“We have also discussed with officials in Sudan the viability of constructing a railway connecting the two countries” he said.

Meanwhile, the deputy director-general of Sudan Seaport Corporation, Abdel Gadir Abu Ali, disclosed plans to expand Port Sudan seaport in order to accommodate demands for CAR’s exports and imports as well as those of South Sudan after it becomes an independent state in July.

The Sudanese official went on to reveal arrangements to waive fees on the movement of trade with CAR in order to encourage it to use Port Sudan seaport.

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