Road linking southern Sudan – Uganda reopened

Sept 13, 2005 (KAMPALA) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) have reopened the Yei-Juba road in southern Sudan, local press reported on Tuesday.

The road opens trade opportunities between Uganda and southern Sudan.

Uganda’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the 160 km road was reopened last week by Lt. Gen. Abujon, accompanied by Maj. Gen. Peter Cirillo, representative of Bahr El Jabel state, Uganda’s consul in Juba Busho Ndinyenka and other SPLA/M commanders and local officials.

The convoy of 20 vehicles was received by a tumultuous crowd of Juba residents, who have paid dearly for commodities transported by air from Khartoum.

“The road is seen as an avenue to get supplies from Uganda more cheaply. Uganda’s Foreign Ministry has called upon Ugandan businessmen to take advantage of the road to trade with Sudan, particularly southern Sudan,” the report added.

(Xinhua/ST)