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Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper
The Global Transport and Logistics Conference, held in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, for three days, has revealed a proposal to finance the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads in Juba through a partnership between the government and the private sector.
The proposal calls for redirecting part of the fees and taxes currently paid by the transport sector towards road maintenance and infrastructure improvement, rather than imposing additional financial burdens on citizens.
The initiative seeks to make use of revenues collected from transport operators, particularly at bridges and crossing points, and directly channel them into improving the roads used by the transport sector on a daily basis.
Electricity: Expanding Imports from Neighbouring Countries
In the energy sector, Taban Deng pointed to the significant disparity in electricity supplies between Juba and the states. He explained that the capital enjoys relatively better access to electricity, while other cities and states continue to face severe shortages.
He said the government is considering the possibility of benefiting from electricity generated in neighbouring countries, particularly Uganda and Ethiopia, to address the deficit and expand access to electricity beyond the capital.
The move is part of efforts to identify short- and medium-term solutions to the energy crisis, alongside the need to develop domestic generation capacity as well as transmission and distribution networks.
Urban Planning and Investment Attraction
The conference also discussed the future of South Sudanese cities and prospects for urban expansion, with Ramshel identified as one of the areas that could develop into an important urban and economic centre.
Participants stressed the importance of conducting comprehensive urban planning surveys, determining land-use patterns and allocating suitable areas for investors, alongside developing the basic infrastructure of cities.
The need to support cities such as Wau and Malakal also emerged, given their importance as economic and administrative centres that could play a greater role in national development.
Refugees and Border Services
Taban Deng also addressed the issue of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda, noting that their large numbers make the refugee situation an issue with humanitarian, economic and political dimensions.
He revealed that he had met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during the events of 2016, when they discussed the situation of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda.
He said the meeting also addressed the importance of providing basic services in border areas, particularly electricity, as a means of encouraging citizens to return and settle in South Sudan.
Taban Deng said he had requested support for connecting Nimule and Kaya to electricity, stressing that extending the Ugandan electricity grid to Nimule represents a first step in that direction.
