Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan Nabil Mahdi. (Photo: Philip Buda Ladu)

The Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan reaffirmed his government’s commitment to building a highway linking Paloch in Upper Nile State and Ethiopia’s Gambella region, after South Sudan alleged stalled construction on the other side.

Ambassador Nabil Mahdi Abdullahi’s statement comes a week after Juba said Addis Ababa has not yet embarked on building the road towards South Sudan’s border.

According to South Sudan Information Minister Michael Makuei, President Salva Kiir, during a February 12 cabinet meeting, directed the relevant institutions to contact Ethiopian government over the stalled project.

Speaking on the state-owned television SSBC on Wednesday evening, the Ethiopian envoy said his government will soon start working on road.

Ambassador Mahdi said the delays are not on their side, adding that he hopes the South Sudan government will accomplish its responsibilities.

“From the Ethiopian side, we are committed to starting this road from Pagak to Paloch soon,” he said.

“I hope from the other side (South Sudan), responsible bodies will accomplish their responsibilities. I briefed him (Minister Makuei) that there were no delays from the Ethiopian side.”

In October 2022, the governments of South Sudan and Ethiopia agreed to jointly finance two major roads linking the oil-rich Paloch to Pagak in Upper Nile State through Gambella in western Ethiopia, and from Ethiopia’s Dima through Jebel-Raad to Boma, and Bor in South Sudan.

Once constructed, the highways will link western Ethiopia and northeastern South Sudan and will provide access for South Sudan to the Port of Djibouti and boost the trade between Addis Ababa and Juba.