Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir is expected to visit Juba next week.

The visit comes two weeks after Sudan and South Sudan signed an agreement for the reopening of trade borders and releasing prisoners of war.

The Sudanese Minister of Information told Eye Radio that the visit by President al-Bashir will strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

“I can say that we need the visits to continue in a natural manner, we do not want people to rush to report about the visits of our leaders, either a visit by President Salva Kiir to Khartoum or a visit by President Omar El Bashir to Juba. We want the visit to be normal because the two Presidents are brothers,’’ Hamed Belal Osman said.

Mister Belal also said the discussion between the two Presidents is likely to focus on the Abyei referendum and the demarcation of the border.

Last month the White House appointed a Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth.

Mr Booth will help facilitate the resolution of issues between the two countries, including the Abyei referendum and the disputed border zones.