South Sudan minister reveals “ambitious” road construction plan ArticleComments (1). Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 6, 2011 (KAMPALA) – A ten year road construction plan, estimated to cost between $3—4 billion will connect the ten states of the newly independence Republic of South Sudan, has been proposed, a minister reveal on Saturday. Gier Chuang Aluong (ST)Gier Chuang Aluong, South Sudan’s minister of roads and bridges, told a student gathering in the Ugandan capital, Kampala that the costly project will accelerate the fledgling nation’s vision of "taking town to the people." Responding to accusations from the students that South Sudan’s leaders have failed to deliver basic services since they came into power after a 2005 peace deal, the minister admitted said he is “irritated when introduced as minister of roads and bridges” when there are no roads and bridges in South Sudan. South Sudan gained independence from north Sudan in July following January referendum that was promised in the 2005 comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) that ended two decades of north—south Sudan civil war. Authorities often blame South Sudan’s poor road network for the slow response of police to local tribal feuds. “Everything is possible and all ten states will be connected. We have made an ambitious plan of over 3,000 kilometres all over the South [Sudan],” minister Chuang said. In what the minister describe as draft plan for his ministry, Chuang claims that the first national road (code named as N1) will start from Nimule on the South Sudan—Uganda border and will connect with Renk near South Sudan’s border with north – Sudan. The N2 road will start from Nadapal on the South Sudan – Kenya border and pass through Kapeota, Torit, Juba to Munduri, Rumbek, Wau and Awiel. N2 will also connect with, Abyei, a contested territory claimed by the south, which is currently in north Sudan. The two roads will connect eight out of South Sudan’s 10 states. Bentiu, the capital of Unity state, will get connected to N2 at Leer, Mayendit to Rumbek. Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria state will be connected to N2 at Munduri. Minister Chuang described building a new road network as “critical”. He added that another road will run from Jokou, next to the Ethiopian border, to Malakal, the headquarters of Upper Nile state. A 70km road, according to Chuang’s plan, will connect Raat to Boma and continue a further 320km to Bor, the capital of Jonglei state. The Jokou – Malakal road will be connected to Unity state by a new bridge to be built across the White Nile river. The minister said the 3,000 km road project will cost up to $4 billion over ten years saying that he will be proud to be the minister for roads and bridges in three years time once construction has begun. FUNDING TARMAC ROADS The source of funding for the tarmac roads, which are rare in South Sudan, remains a fundamental question. But the South Sudan minister expressed opportunism that a combination of donor funding and credit would allow the project to go ahead. Considering that the government of South Sudan’s 2011 annual budget was only $2.3 billion spending $4 billion on roads over four years is a massive but much need investment according to the minister. Minister Chuang says the price worth it. “If we have the oil, should we leave it without building roads?” he said. When South Sudan seceded from north Sudan it took with it 75% of the country’s oil. TAKING TO THE PEOPLE Repeating the slogan of the John Garang, the former leader of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, Chuang said he wanted to bring the services available in towns to people in rural and remote areas. Chuang warned that unless road construction is made a priority in South Sudan towns will never reach the people because “towns will not be loaded on trucks and transported to villages.” “We cannot build a nation without roads and bridges. Roads are the backbone of the development of any nation. Building roads is the only hope,” he said. As a former minister of internal affairs, Chuang said he had “difficult life” responding to local conflicts in South Sudan that have killed thousands since the 2005 peace deal. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
