Garang announces plans to build roads in south Sudan

KHARTOUM, May 24, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — Speaking on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) John Garang announced that when the government of the south is set up, it intends to develop the basic infrastructure in the south, starting with roads.

According to the independent Al-Ayam, the plan includes the construction of 12 asphalt roads linking the southern towns in Upper Nile, Equatoria and Bahr al-Ghazal and with Darfur through Nyala and Babanusah, with southern Kordufan through Kadugli, with White Nile through Renk, and with southern Blue Nile through Al-Damazin.

The roads would also link the towns to Uganda through Nimule, Kenya though Lokichokkio and the Congo through Lasu.

In addition, a railway line would be constructed from Juba to Mombasa Port through Kenya and Uganda. The SPLM is also negotiating with the government of the DRC to construct a railway line linking Juba to Kisangani town.

The plans also consist of rehabilitating the river link between southern and northern Sudan and the building of a dam at the Fula cataracts to the south of Juba to generate electricity.