Central Equatoria governor issues 72-hour ultimatum for road reserve demolitions

JUBA – Governor of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, on Wednesday issued a 72-hour ultimatum for demolition of structures built along the road reserve on major highways in the capital Juba.

This came after the minister of finance, Bak Barnaba Chol, announced plans to rehabilitate major roads within Juba city to reduce traffic congestion.

Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference on Wednesday, Governor Emmanuel said the government is going to rehabilitate and construct some of the major road networks within Juba city.

Governor Adil said the rehabilitation comes with responsibility which includes demolition of structures built on road reserves.

“We want to inform our people that indeed the government is going to rehabilitate and construct some of the major road networks and this comes with responsibility with this announcement,” said Adil.

“We move forward to implementing this great project in thanking the president, any individual who has constructed his house in the road reserve or in the road, kindly you are given 72 hours to go and start removing those infrastructures because the committee have been informed and instructed to go and start removing because we want to start the work on this particular side of the city.”

He also urged hawkers to stop operating on roadsides in Juba

“Number two and very importantly, we have also observed that people have deliberately started encroaching even on the roads that have already been constructed and we equally inform you kindly remove those structures,” he said.

“More importantly, people have developed a habit of even coming to create markets on roads and I think this is unacceptable; we have places that are designated for markets. We advise that these hawkers or sellers should be able to go and sell in a very conducive environment where you can be accessed,” he added.

On his part, finance minister Bak said the infrastructure projects under the auspices of President Salva Kiir Mayardit will include expansion, rehabilitation and construction of roads around the city.

“We have been instructed by H.E. the President together with authorities and the government Central Equatoria to work together to make sure the internal roads of Juba city are renovated, rehabilitated, constructed and put in order,” Chol said.