June 11, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – The government of South Sudan has announced that it is suspending the construction of a major high-way connecting the country’s capital with the Bahr el Ghazal region.
Vice President for cluster ion the revitalized unity government Taban Deng however said the suspension does not mean that the work has stopped but to revise the contract so that a durable road is constructed in the country.
“The suspension does not mean the construction has stopped, but is to review the design of the road. So I call on the company to build their capacity within the suspension period to ensure quality standard of the road,” Deng said.
The 392km project that connects Bahr El Ghazal Region to Equatoria region where the capital Juba is located is being constructed by Shandong Hi-Speed Group Corporation over a three-year period.
Last week, President Salva Kiir fired the Presidential Affairs Minister, Mayiik Ayii, over what he described as poor supervision of the project.
Hua Ning, the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, said that the company will make necessary changes to improve the quality of the highway.
“China is going to make sure that this road [Juba-Rumbek] is reviewed and constructed well,” said Hua.
Meanwhile, Simon Mijok Mijak, South Sudan’s Minister of Road and Bridges, said the previous design did not take into consideration the drainage system and other factors.
Mijak revealed that a seven-member technical committee had been formed to investigate the matter.
“The committee comprises of seven members and they will deliver their report to the Ministry within 21 days,” said Mijak.
