JUBA – Al-Wadi Newspaper

The Transport and Logistics Conference concluded its proceedings in the capital, Juba, with a clear message that the development of South Sudan’s transport sector is directly linked to strengthening cooperation and regional integration with neighboring countries. Such integration could pave the way for transforming the country into a commercial and logistics hub connecting East Africa with the Nile Basin.

The conference, which discussed challenges and opportunities related to transport, trade and infrastructure, emphasized that South Sudan’s geographical location could become a major economic advantage, provided that road networks and trade corridors are developed and connected to ports, dry ports, storage facilities and logistics services both inside the country and across neighboring states.

In this context, Vice President and Chairperson of the Infrastructure Cluster, Taban Deng Gai, presented a proposal to connect regional trade routes with dry ports, while also developing river navigation, improving electricity networks and harmonizing procedures related to trade and investment.

The proposal also called for facilitating the movement of people and capital across borders, recognizing that the free flow of trade and investment depends not only on roads, but also on an integrated system of infrastructure, procedures and policies shared by countries across the region.

Participants said implementing this vision could gradually help South Sudan move away from reliance on a limited number of trade routes and instead build a more diversified regional network, strengthening the country’s potential role as a transit corridor for goods between the markets of East and Central Africa and the Nile Basin.

The Nile River: A Strategic Project Beyond Borders

One of the most prominent ideas that emerged during the conference was the development of navigation along the Nile River and the linking of Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea, an ambitious project that could reshape the region’s transport and trade map.

The concept is based on utilizing the Nile as a waterway connecting several regions and countries, potentially enabling the movement of goods and people along an extensive water route, reducing pressure on road networks and improving the efficiency of regional trade.

However, turning this ambition into a viable project would require specialized engineering and technical studies, an assessment of infrastructure requirements, substantial financing, and political and technical agreements among the countries through which the proposed navigation route would pass.

The project would also require addressing challenges related to river ports, navigation channels, water levels, border-crossing and customs procedures, in order to establish an integrated system that would facilitate the movement of vessels and goods among participating countries.

Regional Integration: A Gateway to Trade and Investment

The conference stressed that the development of the transport sector should not be viewed as an isolated national project, but rather as part of a broader regional system linking roads, ports, airports, river corridors, storage facilities and markets.

If political will is secured, alongside cooperation and coordination among countries in the region, the Nile River could regain part of its historic role as a trade and transportation corridor and become an economic lifeline connecting capitals, ports, production centers and markets across East and Central Africa.

Observers believe that the success of this vision could provide South Sudan with a greater opportunity to capitalize on its geographical position, not only by facilitating the movement of goods into and out of the country, but also by attracting investment in transport, logistics, storage, energy and infrastructure.

The conference deliberations emphasized that achieving these objectives requires moving beyond the stage of proposing ideas toward developing clear implementation plans and feasibility studies, while identifying project priorities, sources of financing, and mechanisms for coordination among the government, private sector and countries of the region.

The Transport and Logistics Conference therefore concluded with a clear message: the future of transport in South Sudan may extend far beyond improving domestic roads. It could involve building an integrated regional network that positions the country as a commercial link between East Africa and the Nile Basin, opening new opportunities for economic growth and regional integration.