Skift Take
Flights haven't run between the countries since January, forcing passengers to travel via Kenya or Ethiopia to cross the border. The return of flights is welcomed by citizens, who hope direct flights will return to regions outside the capital as well.
Commercial flights between Khartoum and Juba resumed on Tuesday, after they were stopped in January a peak in tension between Sudan and South Sudan.
Sudan's aviation authority suspended the daily direct flights between Juba and Khartoum after an initial deadline of 9 April as they were no longer domestic thus required an international agreement. South Sudan broke away from Sudan in 2011, leaving numerous issues outstanding, including border demarcation, security and oil.
This led in April this year to a brief conflict over a contested oil-rich border area bringing the two sides to the brink of all-out conflict.
The cessation of flights between the two capitals has also further cut off the exchange of goods and services as well as movement of the people. Before South Sudan's independence in July last year Khartoum closed the border, citing security reasons, with major economic consequences for states either side of the new border.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="350"] The two nations sign a four freedoms deal in August representing the freedom of residence, movement, economic activity, and freedom to acquire/dispose of property.
