Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Vice President of Infrastructure Cluster, Taban Deng Gai, said the road construction that the government is undertaking across the country would help boost the economy.
He was speaking during the inspection of the Juba-Rumbek highway road on Thursday.
“Roads are very important in cementing peace, uniting people, and strengthening the economy of the country.” As you can see now, the lives of the people on both sides of the Nile in Terekeka and Mangala are already changing,” Taban said.
He explained that the community is now connected to people from different areas and Juba City via two highways: one to the east of the Nile and the other to the west of the Nile. He added that the construction had changed the lives of the Mundari people.
“We are doing some activities on Western Equatoria Road, Yei, Rumbek roads, and Tarmac Road are about to reach Bor from the East of the Nile,” Taban said.
He said the ministry is also very active in Bahr el Ghazal and all over the Equatoria areas, save for the upper Nile region, which still faces some significant challenges.
“We have been challenged by the communities, that you are making roads in Bahr el-Ghazal and Equatoria, where we don’t have roads,” he said.
“We are telling them to be patient. The directive of the president is to connect every corner of the country.’’
On September 19, 2022, Vice President Taban travelled to Djibouti and Ethiopia to discuss South Sudan’s need to access Djibouti port
He said as a land-locked country, South Sudan cannot rely on only two ports of Sudan and Mombasa, saying there is a need for the country to access Lamu, port Berbera in Somalia, Djibouti port, Assabin Eritrea and
“We must access a number of ports and we must build our airport because a landlocked country also relies on air transport.”
“This means road connectivity, airports, electricity, and other projects that enhance economic development,” he said, adding that the citizens need to cooperate with engineers working on the projects.
Simon Mijok Mijak, the national minister of roads and bridges, lamented the myriad challenges that continue to affect the projects.
“We are determined to deliver this project to the people of South Sudan,” he said.
According to project details from Shandong Hi-Speed Nile Investment and Development Company, construction on the Juba-Rumbek Road began in 2019 and is anticipated to be finished within three years.
Ma Qiang, the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan said its government is keen on accomplishing the construction of the project.
“Thanks to the Shandong Hi-Speed and support from the government of South Sudan and the first section of the road construction have been completed,” he said.
“This road is of high standard and quality, and it’s the first modern highway in this country; it tends to take only 40 minutes to drive from Juba to Terekeka,” Qiang said.
He emphasised the road’s importance to the people and the changes it has made to the people’s lives through the new business opportunities.
“This road is a road of peace, development, and prosperity, as well as a demonstration of Chain and South Sudan’s friendship,” he said.
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