Kenya to spearhead Southern Sudan’s post-war reconstruction
By Obwao Oluoch
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 19, 2004 (PANA) — Kenya will host Southern Sudan’s first
post-war reconstruction conference from 21-25 September in
Nairobi, a senior official revealed here.
In an exclusive interview, the official said in Nairobi Wednesday
that plans for the construction of a 2,500-km railway link
between Kitale in western Kenya and Juba, the main town is
Southern Sudan will be among the top issues on the agenda.
Kenyan Planning and National Development Minister Professor
Anyang Nyong’o told PANA that the five-day meeting will be among
a series of investment conferences planned between the
neighbouring Eastern African countries.
“Sudan and Somalia are supposed to be active members of the
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), we want them
involved in attracting investments in the region,” Nyong’o said.
The conference will also help identify the resources needed to
revive the region’s stalled economic take-off and co-ordinate
reconstruction activities that could begin immediately after the
Khartoum government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation
Army/Movement (SPLA/M) have signed the final peace pact
later this year.
Representatives from the Khartoum government, the (SPLA/M),
NGOs working in the troubled area and international organisations
will attend the five-day Peace Building and Reconstruction
Conference for Southern Sudan.
“The active involvement in Sudan by the donor community and a
rapid start to reconstruction activities are crucial ingredients
for stability in the delicate phase following a peace agreement,”
Nyong’o said.
Southern Sudan, the SPLA/M’s stronghold, lacks any paved roads
and is heavily infested by landmines.
Delegates to the meeting will also dwell on peace-building
activities such as mine clearance, disarmament and monitoring of
the current ceasefire, the building of infrastructure,
establishing state authority and humanitarian activities that are
crucial to prepare for the planned return of over 600,000
refugees from neighbouring countries.
“It is expected the international community will able to join
with Southern Sudan in the essential task of realising the long
awaited reconstruction of the country’s infrastructure,” the
minister said.
Southern Sudan, ravaged by many years of civil war and neglect
by the central government in Khartoum regime is looking towards
the reconstruction of institutions and delivery of essential
services.
Nyong’o also disclosed that a Germany company has expressed
interest to build the proposed multi-billion dollar railway line
between Kenya and southern Sudan.
The building of the railway – which would constitute a
first-ever stable transport link between southern Sudan and its
southern neighbours, could help in changing the
political and geographical landscape of the continent.
“Topographical survey between Kitale (Western Kenya)
and southern Sudan region has been done,” the minister
said.
According to him, the study of the terrain across Kenya, parts
of Uganda and Southern Sudan has confirmed the viability of the
railway network.
The railway would be for the first time, connect the
predominantly black and Christian south of Sudan with the rest of
sub-Saharan Africa.
The minister said the rail will enable Sudan to export oil from
oil fields in the southern region through the Kenyan port of
Mombasa.
International pressure stopped Kenya’s plans to import oil from
southern Sudan, through a pipeline via Port Sudan, although the
reasons have never been made public.
Sources told PANA that the opposition to Kenya’s utilisation of
oil resources from southern Sudan was opposed due to the armed
conflict that has raged in that past of Sudan since 1983.
The Kenya-Uganda and Sudan railway line is estimated to cover
2,500-km and will stretch from Juba via Lokichoggio to Nakuru and
Kitale, the minister said.
Two additional lines are planned to connect southern Sudan with
the towns of Gulu and Arua in Uganda.
The construction of the railway to run through the swamps of
southern Sudan across the plains of northern Kenya and a vast
territory of undeveloped land could provide the much-needed
infrastructure to this remote region.
The German railway construction firm, Thormaehlen Schweisstechnik
AG, has signed an agreement with the SPLM, the Kenyan and Ugandan
governments to build the proposed railway.
The ambitious transportation scheme, estimated to cost about
US$5 billion, is supposed to be partly pre-financed by donor
countries, the World Bank and others. Oil revenue from southern
Sudan will ultimately pay for the project.
“The cost implications are not important at this time. What is
important is that countries have agreed to work jointly in this
project, to me, money means nothing at this time,” Nyong’o
reiterated.
The construction of the railway will take at least two years but
Nyong’o said the Germany railway contractor is expected in
Nairobi
soon for further talks about the project.
A United Nations diplomat in Nairobi who sought anonymity, told
PANA that the Kenyan government has made it clear that for the
process in Sudan to succeed, a real partnership between Sudan and
the international community will be required.
“Until now, this partnership has waited for a demonstration by
the Sudanese people of their serious determination and commitment
to a united vision and process for rebuilding their country.
Successfully establishing a national framework will be
pivotal,” the diplomat said.
The reconstruction of Sudan, which is expected to take centre-
stage after the belligerents sign a comprehensive peace accord
would is expected to get a major boost from several governmental
organisations and donor countries working in southern Sudan.
These include the US Agency for International Development
(USAID), Britain, Norway, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, United
Nations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World
Bank.
Others are the African Development Bank, the Arab League, the
Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and several
NGOs, which are expected to attend the 21-25 September conference
in Nairobi.