President Salva Kiir shakes hands with Roads and Bridges Minister Peter Lam Both after discussions on road infrastructure and a proposed oil revenue escrow account. Photo: Office of the President.

The Minister of Roads and Bridges, Peter Lam Both, has proposed the establishment of an escrow account for oil revenues to improve transparency following a meeting with President Salva Kiir on Thursday.

An escrow account is a neutral third-party account that holds funds or assets until agreed conditions are met, ensuring security and trust for all parties involved.

According to a statement from the Office of the President, President Kiir backed the new policy proposal aimed at accelerating road construction across South Sudan.

The statement said the proposal is also intended to attract international construction firms to competitively bid for road projects nationwide.

It added that the President reaffirmed road connectivity as a key government priority.

Among the key updates discussed during the meeting was the acceleration of construction on the Juba–Bahr el Ghazal Highway after the government assigned an additional Chinese company, Jonshu International, to handle the Rumbek–Wau section.

Officials say the move is expected to reduce construction time on one of the country’s most important transport corridors.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the Nadapal–Boma–Raad–Ethiopia Highway, which is expected to be funded by the African Development Bank, and the Juba–Torit–Nadapal Highway, currently under consideration by the World Bank.