A prominent civil society activist has urged the government of South Sudan to urgently repair the deteriorating Juba-Nimule Highway, warning that the road continues to worsen due to heavy rains.
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), made the appeal, stressing that the highway – South Sudan’s primary link to East Africa – is riddled with potholes and poses a danger to road users.
“I want to take this opportunity to once again raise my voice to the Vice President for Infrastructure Cluster and the Vice President for Economic Cluster regarding the worsening state of the Juba-Nimule Road,” Yakani said. “The road is a lifeline for South Sudan, and it’s deteriorating rapidly due to numerous potholes.”
Yakani, who recently traveled along the Juba-Nimule Highway, said he witnessed firsthand the damage. “The potholes are not only increasing in number but also in size. Some sections have even been washed away by rainwater. If nothing is done soon, the road could become impassable, severely affecting the movement of people and goods.”
He called on the Vice Presidents responsible for infrastructure and the economy to empower the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to carry out urgent repairs.
“I urge engineering companies to step in and repair this vital road,” Yakani added. “Please help the people of South Sudan by addressing the potholes as part of your civic responsibility and corporate social duty.”
In a related call, Yakani appealed to the government to upgrade migration and security facilities at the Nimule border post to meet international standards.
“I call on the national leadership to prioritize improvements in our migration and security infrastructure,” he stated.
The issue of the Juba-Nimule Highway is not new. In 2023, Margaret Akongo Oliver, the Head Chief of Pageri Payam in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, urged the government to speed up the rehabilitation of the road to ease movement.
“We heard that funds were allocated and tenders awarded for the road works, but the section at Kerepi remains unrepaired,” she said.
In July 2023, the national government launched a redevelopment initiative to rehabilitate the single-carriage highway. However, two months later, the Ministry of Roads and Bridges suspended the project to plan for a dual carriageway.
Meanwhile, the Ugandan government also announced plans to rehabilitate its section of the highway in response to demands from traders seeking improved infrastructure to boost cross-border commerce.
Yakani’s renewed appeal follows a tragic accident on the Juba-Nimule Highway in Moil area that claimed four lives on Wednesday afternoon, underscoring the urgent need for road safety improvements.
