South Sudan inaugurates 80Kms paved road in Western Equatoria

By Richard Ruati

November 19, 2009 (DIABIO, WES) –On Thursday 19th November 2009, officials from the Government of the United States and the Government Southern Sudan joined state government leaders and members of the local communities to inaugurate the fully designed gravel surfaced road in southern Sudan.

The project is part of the USAID’s Accelerated Infrastructure Program, implemented by Unites Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) since 2006.

The USAID has donated U$D37 millions aid money for the Faraksiaka-Maridi-Yambio-Diaio road.

The GOSS Minister of Roads and Transport, H.E Anthony Lino Makana handed over the 80 kilometers newly constructed road to the state authority and communities in Western Equatoria State.

Makana explained that, “His Ministry of Roads and Transport is responsible for constructing the trunk roads in southern Sudan, of over 30,000 kilometers in South Sudan, so far only 7,000 has been constructed and WES road being the first well-built road, this is a tremendous achievement by the Government southern Sudan in four years time.”

He added that, “the roads will boost the socio-economic, security and transportation activities of villagers along the roads, adding that, it will increase the production of food crops to supply the entire south Sudan, as WES is always referred to as the green-belt of agricultural products.”

He stressed that, “the road project has come as a result of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which was signed in Nairobi Kenya, in 2005.”

The GOSS minister promised the people of WES of a 16 kilometers tarmac road to start soon as WES is set host the 5th celebration of CPA.

Mr. Kevin Green, of US Juba Consulate Public Affair Officer represented the US mission in South Sudan, during the occasion he recognized all supports and thanks accorded to the US government and the American People.

Green said that, “The money is coming from ordinary American people as a contribution towards development projects in South Sudan. This is a true partnership with the local communities of Western Equatoria State.”

“The road projects in WES are the most valuable gift from the American people to the people of WES,” said Green.

He concluded that, “The US Government and American people will continue to support developmental projects in southern Sudan.”

The Objectives of USAID road Projects

According to USAID officials, the objectives of USAID funded program are to create employment and build local capacity, contribute to conflict prevention and confidence building; facilitate IDP/returnee movements and resettlement; improve access by road, linking Kenya, DRC, CAR and Uganda to Sudan, reduce the cost of access to food production; and stimulate and modernize the transportation sector.

Without new road investment and virtually no maintenance during the past 25 years, the roads network has deteriorated and cannot provide safe accessibility during the rainy season from July to December. The principal objective of GOSS and USAID is to accelerate construction to provide the road users and the adjacent communities with all-weather safe accessibility.

The activity includes the construction and rehabilitation of selected road corridors in southern Sudan, specially the 185 kilometers road corridor Yambio to Tambura and the Emergency Road Repair of the Diabio-Ezo road (75km).

The road was initially divided into two separate construction sections: Yambio-Diabio and Diabio-Tambura. A third section (Diabio-Ezo repair) was added to the project in July 2008 thus increasing the activity by 75 kilometers. This addition allows for an economically essential link between Western Equatoria and major market centers including opening of international trade with Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The project is divided into three packages: Rehabilitation of Yambio-Diabio road (80 km) this has been completed by CIVICOM a Kenya based compnay, Rehabilitation of Diabio-Tambura road (105 km) ongoing and to be completed by 2010, it is being constructed by Eyat a Khartoum based company and Emergency Repair of Diabio-Ezo (75 km) ongoing and to be completed by 2010 being constructed by Payii roads Company Juba based company.

(ST)