AWEIL: Like most south Sudanese, traders in the border state relish the prospect of cutting the umbilical cord with the north but face a daunting readjustment to survive the separation.

Aweil is the capital of Northern Bahr al-Ghazal, one of the states flanking the future international border between Sudan's north and south, and in recent years it has become a major hub for goods coming from the north.

Uncertainty over relations between the two former foes if the south becomes a fully-fledged state in July, as well as unresolved issues in the peace agreement, leave question marks hanging over the future of cross-border trade.

In Aweil market, the cost of sorghum has risen by around 50 percent in recent days. While a number of factors account for the price hike, southern traders favour one explanation.

The temporary closure of a main north-south road due to in-security, cuts in subsidies on some goods by the government in Khartoum and the seasonal food gap in the landlocked south also concurred to raise prices.

Whether or not there is an element of retribution from the north over the south's unequivocal decision to secede, southerners galvanised by the prospect of statehood vow they would rather rely on friendlier neighbours.

"If one day the road completely closes, we will open new trade routes with Kenya and Uganda.