GPAA demand Juba-Pibor roadworks be restarted
March 26, 2015 (BOR) – The Greater Pibor Administration Area (GPAA) has demanded that the central government reverse it decision to suspend the Juba-Pibor roadworks.
In an interview by phone from Pibor on Thursday, area spokesman Peter Guzulu said the decision, made two weeks ago by the national council of ministers, had angered locals and the GPAA government, which has described it as unconstitutional.
“The closure of the road first of all is unconstitutional. When you want to close the road constructed between two states and you want to close it for whatever the reason you should consult the concerned authorities,” Guzulu told Sudan Tribune.
He has accused South Sudan’s director of wildlife, Philip Chol, as being behind the decision that led to the closure of the road.
The road, which was meant to connect Pibor to Juba, initially began with the collaboration of the Central Equatoria state government, but construction was halted after the route was found to be passing through a national park.
A 30km stretch has already been cleared, with about 10km levelled with marrum (rocky brown clay).
According to Guzulu, a report by Chol recommending the closure of the road was quickly adopted by president Salva Kiir’s cabinet without scrutiny, saying animals should not be favoured more than human beings at such a critical time in the country.
“You cannot favour animals more than human beings, because in our country we are always crying for development and development cannot come without roads,” he said.
“There is no constitution that says roads that pass through parks should be closed. We don’t have that in our constitution,” he added.
Murle ethnic tribesmen and women took to the streets in the town os Pibor, Gumuruk and Likuangole to protest the decision, chanting against the Dinka Bor and accusing them of being behind the road closure.
However, Chol has denied the Dinka Bor had any hand in the decision, saying the accusations are designed to fuel conflict between the two groups.
Guzulu said that simmering tribal tensions between Dinka and Murle would likely erupt if the road remained closed, urgig the cabinet to reverse its decision to help maintain peace and stability in the region.
“We are calling on the cabinet to reverse their decision. We don’t want to be perceived as people who solve [a] problem with[a] problem,” he said. “We want it to be solved amicably, diplomatically and peacefully,” he added.
Rather then shutting down roadworks, Guzulu proposed that the wildlife ministry deploy trained personnel in Pibor to combat rampant poaching in the area.
Sudan Tribune was unable to reach the ministry for wildlife and tourism for comment.
(ST)