New bridge at Jur River constructed by Chinese government - Courtesy

Luo youth in Western Bahr el Ghazal State has for the second time petitioned the parliament over the alleged renaming of the Jur River Bridge.

The Chinese-built new bridge is reportedly slated to be commissioned towards the end of this year.

On Tuesday, October 3, the youth claimed the lifeline bright connecting the greater Bahr el Ghazal region has been named after later hero Clement Boro.

They warn the move is dragging the community into a new conflict related to land grabbing.

Santino Madut, the Chairperson of Luo Youth said this is the second time for youth to hand over a written petition to the state legislature.

“This is the second petition, and the first petition was written last year We the Luo Youth Union of Bahr el Ghazal, wrote a petition letter about the renaming of Jur River Bridge to Clement Mboro,” said Madut.

“This issue is bringing the problem in the society and we the youth of Luo in Bahr el Ghazal youth union are advocating for peace, the problem of land grabbing is a problem now all over the country,” he said.

“You may find the owners of the land are being neglected and others are given the right of the land, this one is bringing the problems in the society.”

For his part, Mohamed Abakar Mohameden, the state parliament Speaker – who received the petition letter says his administration will forward the complaints to the relevant committees of the August house and investigate the matter.

However, the speaker asked the Luo youth to produce proof of the new bridge name when it was signed between the government of China and South Sudan.

“I will work through this petition, it will refer to the committee concern because here we have eight committees within the assembly responsible for roads and bridges, national resources, and infrastructure that are going investigate, to analyse and see and follow the process with the executive,” said Abakar.

“Our role here in the assembly is to receive and listen and complain coming from the community, analyse and call the executive concern,” he said.

“We will see when you [youth] bring the attached document I will prefer the letter to the community concern, and the committee will take our process or the procedures of the assembly.”

In 2020, the Chinese government offered to offer a bridge to the government of South Sudan and agreed to be constructed on the Jur River.