Juba-Nadapal highway construction stalls over lack of funds

By Awan Achiek

The Deputy Governor of Eastern Equatoria, Mary Nadio said on Wednesday that the construction of the Juba-Nadapal highway linking to neighboring Kenya has stalled over lack of funding. 

“Inadequate means of transport, mobility, and poor roads. When I went to a certain County, I had to leave the car and walk and yet there is too much talk here that Juba-Nadapal road is now functioning, but I keep coming through this road and I don’t see any work there,” Nadio said while addressing the 7^th governors’ forum in Juba.

The Deputy Governor said the government has not paid the contractor of the Juba-Nadapal road.

“I only see big cars parked but they are not doing anything, and we also want to know why this road that is linking South Sudan to Kenya is not being funded like other roads,” Nadio said.

 The 365-kilometer Juba-Nadapal road  stretches through Torit, Kapeota, and Nadapal at the border with neighboring Kenya.

The construction was initially scheduled to be completed within four years, but shortage of funds has delayed the project.

Africa Resource Corporation (ARC) a Juba-based company was contracted in August 2022 to construct the road.

The road project, which is an international corridor linking the hinterland of South Sudan with markets in Kenya and international markets through the port of Mombasa is estimated to cost $29 billion.

Construction crews have begun clearing trees along the route of the proposed Juba-Nadapal highway.