FILE PHOTO: Road engineers pose for a picture at Sherikat in Juba on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 during the launch of rehabilitation and redevelopment of Juba-Nimule highway | Credit | Lou Nelson/Eye Radio

Civil society activist Edmond Yakani has renewed calls on the national government to urgently rehabilitate the Juba-Nimule highway, warning that the condition of the strategic trade route is worsening by the day.

Yakani, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), emphasized that the highway remains a vital economic lifeline for South Sudan’s market supply and the movement of people.

While acknowledging that some rehabilitation work is underway, Yakani stated that progress has been too slow to keep up with the rapid deterioration of the tarmac. He warned that the road’s poor condition is directly driving up transport costs, hindering trade, and inflating the cost of living in Juba and other states.

“The status of the Juba-Nimule road is really running out of hand,” Yakani said. “We have seen an attempt to rehabilitate the road, but the speed is too slow. This road is the lifeline for the population of South Sudan in Juba and beyond. Therefore, I am raising my voice to the attention of the leadership of the country that there is a need for an urgent and quick response.”

The activist appealed directly to the Ministry of Roads and Bridges, the Vice President for the Infrastructure Cluster, and President Salva Kiir to prioritize funding and resources for the highway’s complete restoration.

The Juba-Nimule highway serves as South Sudan’s primary international trade corridor, linking the landlocked country to neighboring Uganda and the wider East African region.

In addition to the interstate highway, Yakani urged authorities to address the growing number of potholes within Juba City.

He noted that the deteriorating urban road network continues to damage vehicles, disrupt local businesses, and endanger residents, calling for a coordinated maintenance campaign by city and state authorities.