Relocation of South Sudanese capital from Juba to Ramciel
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By Jacob K. Lupai
September 20, 2011 — On 9 July 2011 South Sudan ended an era of
marginalization by declaring itself as independent Republic of South
Sudan. On 8 August precisely 30 days later the first President of the
Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, declared to the nation
that in the first 100 days of the new government 30 new primary
schools and 4 new secondary schools will be under construction.
Similarly, within the first 100 days of the government the President
assured people that 600,000 children will be vaccinated against deadly
diseases. The President went on to assure people that within the first
100 days of the new government 2 roads and 2 airstrips will be opened
in Unity and Warrap states, and 50 new police stations will be located
throughout the country.
On 26 August 2011 precisely 48 days after the declaration of
independence, the President of the Republic of South Sudan announced
the formation of the new national government. There was a sigh of
relief as it had been indeed a long wait for the glimpse of the
composition of the government. People were in limbo not knowing what
was in store for them. The announcement of the new government stopped
all gossips and speculations. People were now faced with the reality
of a new government. As always there are those who may perceive
themselves as losers. It was therefore inevitable that the formation
of the new government did not get spontaneous positive reception.
There were critical views expressed.
Of interest here is the relocation of the capital of the Republic of
South Sudan from Juba to Ramciel and the President’s declared targets
or goals to be achieved within 100 days of the new government.
Presumably the period of the 100 days is with effect from 26 August,
the day the new government was announced. If this is the case then the
evaluation of the performance of the new government may take place on
4 December 2011. However, before people could test the new government
for its commitment to service delivery within the declared 100 days,
on 2 September the new government barely a week in office declared the
relocation of the capital of the Republic of South Sudan from Juba to
Ramciel. This may clearly suggest that we are more of theorizers than
pragmatists.
We may not talk much about the achievement of the goals set within the
100 days period. This is because we are merely 23 days into the
period. The government, however, will not escape scrutiny by the
people. As the heading of this article suggests, the focus is on the
relocation of the capital. It was in February 2011 that a proposal was
made for the development of a new capital city for the then Southern
Sudan. This was seen as inevitable for development with the
independence of Southern Sudan becoming a reality by the minute. The
main reason cited for the development of the new city was the
attraction of substantial investment into the economy of independent
South Sudan.
Two main challenges were highlighted with the option of continuing
with Juba as the capital of an independent South Sudan. The challenges
were the alleged continued tension between Central Equatoria State
over the city of Juba and an appropriation act that would be required
to take hold of lands owned and/or leased to citizens in an attempt of
re-planning. It seems obvious that with the attempt of re-planning of
Juba city for the national capital, citizens would likely be adversely
affected because they might need to be relocated. Probably as a
solution to this problem, two main options for a new location for the
national capital were made.
The two options were Ramciel and a new location. Ramciel was explored
but a company claimed it was not suitable for the capital because of a
swampy terrain, high cost of building remote infrastructures,
transport, supplying water and energy in and around swampy areas. A
new area was then explored. The area was about 19,000 square
kilometers and would be curved out from the four states of Central
Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei and Lakes. If this was the
proposed area for the new capital then the capital would have been 190
kilometers long and 100 wide. As a square the capital would have been
137.841 by 137.841 kilometers. It is unlikely that there is a capital
of this size in the world. What is so unique about the capital for the
Republic of South Sudan that must have such an enormous area? As a
modification the amount of land recommended for the capital is now an
area of 2,829 square kilometers. As a square the capital will be 53.19
b y 53.19 kilometers. London, one of the oldest capital cities in the
world leave alone Jerusalem in the Middle East may hardly be 50 by 50
kilometers in area.
The justification for the new capital of the Republic of South Sudan
to have such enormous area is considered for substantial attraction of
investments to the economy. However, this is not only grossly
misleading and erroneous but pathetic. Is investment only to be
concentrated in the area of the capital? Where on earth do people need
a large area for the capital to attract investments? Don’t all areas
of the country deserve investments like the capital? There seems to be
some flaw in our development planning. After all a capital is an
organic entity that is subject to expand accordingly. Demarcating the
borders of the capital save for service delivery may be a waste of
meager resources. The government may not need an area as large as
2,829 square kilometers. It may need an area enough for the
construction of ministries and institutions necessary for
administering the country. The states naturally have vast areas where
investments should be taking place instead of concentration on the
capital as if the capital is everything in the country.
Arguably the relocation of the capital of the Republic of South Sudan
from Juba to Ramciel is not because there is lack of land in Central
Equatoria State. According to press statement by the Ministry of
Information and Communication in Central Equatoria State the then GOSS
was allotted two pieces of land each of 25 square kilometers on either
bank of the Nile but there was no response from the GOSS. Central
Equatoria State was also ready to provide the land extending from Juba
International Airport to Jebel Lado Mountain as verbally requested by
the GOSS but there was no official request made. In addition the
Central Equatoria State official position was co-existence of the two
levels of government, namely that of Central Equatoria State and that
of the Republic of South Sudan. However, as the exclusive prerogative
of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of South Sudan people have
expressed no objection to the relocation of the capital. It is only
interesting that the government has decided to relocate that capital
to Ramciel against the advice of the company that concluded Ramciel
was unsuitable location for the new capital.
The issue of land grabbing in Juba should not be used as the reason
for the relocation of the capital. It was only unfortunate that the
GOSS showed absolute deafening silence in the face of criminal land
grabbing in and around Juba. The GOSS was able to make some noises
about corruption and insecurity although didn’t offer tangible
solutions but totally ignored the criminal land grabbing activity as
though it did not exist. This seemed to have encouraged land grabbing
with impunity. Land owners where even threatened with violence and
death by land grabbers in uniform who were clearly undermining the
constitution. The GOSS could not be seen as helpful in combating land
grabbing. People were loud about unity but could not warn people of
the causes of disunity of which land grabbing could be one of the
causes. Courts were not helpful either as land grabbing cases dragged
on and on. There is a danger that land grabbing could undermine
national cohesion necessary for sustainable unity of the people of the
Republic of South Sudan. The new government must wake up to the
reality of land grabbing that may be a danger to peaceful co-existence
for unity.
The relocation of the capital should not be associated with lack of
land and not even with land grabbing in Central Equatoria. It is only
a pity that the culture of greed seems to be dominant over the culture
of patriotism. People behave like locusts in devouring a field of crop
causing unnecessary chronic household food insecurity. When a project
is conceived the priority of people seems the stuffing of their
pockets with whatever their hands may touch with little regard for the
nation. The dura saga is an example.
In conclusion, Central Equatoria had offered land sufficient enough
for construction of government institutions to administer the country.
Land grabbing cases are in court and are being dealt with albeit too
slow and frustrating but will eventually be resolved. This all goes to
exonerate Central Equatoria State for the perceived lack of
cooperation in providing land for the new capital of the Republic of
South Sudan. What is now needed though is good governance where it is
people-driven, responsive and participatory. We must all applaud the
President of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, when he
said, “--------, we must now focus on delivery of basic services to
meet the great expectations of our people. This is only possible if we
have a government whose first, second and final priorities are public
interest, public interest, public interest!” The President was
addressing the First Joint Sitting of the National Legislature and the
Nation.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
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