Juba-Bahr el Ghazal highway construction resumes – VP Taban announces

JUBA – The construction of South Sudan’s Juba Bahr el Ghazal highway which was halted a in June  as results of torrential rains has resumed, according to the country’s vice-president for infrastructure cluster Taban Deng Gai.

In June, while under construction, a few kilometres of the Juba-Bahr el Ghazal highway were washed away by rains, prompting the government to order for suspension. Poor project management also resulted in the removal of presidential affairs minister Mayiik Ayii Deng.

Speaking to reporters at the side of construction outside Juba on Wednesday last week, Taban said the construction has resumed, stressing the important of the road, saying the highway will connect the capital to all the states in the Bahr el Ghazal region as well as Unity state.

“This road also goes to the oil fields, and it will also go to the only (fuel) refinery that we have in South Sudan, and I believe that next year you will not buy diesel for this road from Kenya or any country. We will have it from our oil,” Deng said.

“This is my second visit to this place to see the activities of the ((Shandong)) company. We believe that this is a blessing because this road serves two-thirds of the population of South Sudan. China is an important partner in the development of South Sudan, and we look forward to continuing Chinese support for the development of infrastructure in this country,” he added.

He Further added that the government aims to boost infrastructure development by using oil resources.