Day: May 20, 2022

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has said the newly-constructed Freedom Bridge, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will enhance growth and boost regional integration.

He was speaking during Thursday’s inauguration of the $91 million project.

The occasion was graced by the Kenyan High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa, Raila Odinga and the Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan, Naohiro Tsutsumi, among other dignitaries.

“I would like to thank the Government and the people of Japan for this important gift to the people of South Sudan. This bridge will stand as lasting evidence of our true friendship with the Japanese people and their government,” said Kiir.

The president said the 560-meter long bridge, built on River Nile, is a symbol of true friendship between his government and the people of Japan.

Construction work started in June 2013 after a lengthy preparatory work.

Kiir thanked JICA for staying the course on the bridge project despite numerous challenges it encountered in the country over the years.

“Despite many setbacks that this project has gone through since its inception, today, the Freedom Bridge he become a reality,” he stressed.

The South Sudanese leader urged citizens to drive safely on the bridge, describing the newly-built facility as “a life line and gateway to the region”.

For his part, Odinga said the commissioning of the bridge shows the interest of the government of South Sudan to connect with the rest of the region.

“Africa is busy expanding its infrastructure”, he said, stressing that the bridge will contributes to efforts to develop and connect to the rest of the world.

“This is a great day for the people of South Sudan as the freedom bridge in Juba opens for business. This bridge will play a key role in enhancing connectivity and trade in our region,” said the ex-Kenyan Prime Minister.

He added, “It is great seeing the project come to fruition. Africa will surely rise”.

According to Odinga, the Freedom Bridge will resolve transport disruption and trade interruption to South Sudanese and the people of East Africa.

“Every bridge built, is a relationship established. Freedom Bridge will resolve fast the transport disruption and trade interruption to the people of South Sudan people and the people of East Africa,” further stressed Odinga.

He added, “With this bridge, South Sudanese will need to access the port of Mombasa or Lamu Just like Kenyan and Ugandan traders need to access Juba. This bridge is part of the answers for the quest of our traders”.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan, Naohiro Tsutsumi appealed to the people of South Sudan to protect the newly-built bridge.

“Dear South Sudanese Friends, now the Freedom Bridge is in your hands. Please take good care of it. It will work hard for you. It is laying itself down for you like a bridge over the troubled water. This bride is simple out of our true friendship,” he said.

The idea of bridge, which measures 12.9 meters wide, was conceived before South Sudan’s independence in 2011, but work started in June 2013.

The initial cost of the bridge’s construction was $91m, but in 2019, the Japanese government pledged an additional $28 million for its completion.

Source: Sudan Tribune

A renowned South Sudanese activist has welcomed the peace accord signed by Misseriya and Ngok Dinka traditional leaders, saying it is essential for both communities to live in peace and harmony.

On Thursday, the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka traditional leaders inked a peace deal reiterating their commitment to achieving lasting peace in Abyei area.

A communique was signed by the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief, Bulabek Deng Kuol and the Misseriya delegation leader, El Sadig Hireka Izzral Din at the end of a three-day joint peace conference held in Entebbe, Uganda.

The leaders, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei (UNISFA) said, committed to advocating for inter-community dialogue to promote the protection of women and children as well as livestock and property.

They further pledged to be the tool for fostering peace between the two communities and agreed to meet regularly in the quest for peace in Abyei.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization [CEPO] welcomes and congratulates the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities for reaching a peace deal. Differences is best resolved using non-violent ways,” CEPO’s Executive Director said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday.

He appealed to the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities to live in peace.

According to Yakani, the issue of Abyei status should not be a factor triggering violence between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities.

“The agreed upon political and legal frameworks on the status of Abyei as per the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement [CPA] should be the guidelines for settling the issues on the status of Abyei,” he stressed.

The activist urged Juba and Khartoum leaders to respect the peace deal reached between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya in Entebbe, Uganda.

“The leadership of UNISFA should help fund the dissemination of the peace deal reached in Uganda on May 19, 2022. CEPO will effectively engage in observing the implementation of the peace deal provisions,” he noted.

In recent months, violence has intensified in the contested oil-producing region, despite the presence of the UN peacekeeping force in the area.

According to authorities in the area, some of the attacks were carried out by the Sudanese Misseriya tribe with the most recent one happening last month, whereby more than 40 civilians including women and children were killed by suspected Messeriya tribesmen in separate incidents in the area.

The Abyei Area, a territory of 10,546 km² on the border between Sudan and South Sudan, was accorded “special administrative status” by the 2004 Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the second Sudanese civil war.

In 2011, the UN Security Council deployed its peacekeeping force in the disputed area after deadly clashes displaced thousands of the population.

Source: Sudan Tribune