Travellers on the Juba-Yambio road were compelled to spend several days on the road after heavy rains rendered some sections of the road impassable, according to state media on Wednesday.

Several trucks and other vehicles got stuck.

Mohamed Yasin, a businessman, said: “We have now spent five days on the road in Munduri. Our goods are being spoiled by heavy rains and mud. We urge the government to make better roads to boost business.”

A passenger, who stranded on the main road said: “I have spent four days on the road. We are really suffering, so we are asking our government to send its engineering team to come and help us.”

According to the Ministry of Roads and Bridges engineer, Mr Ohisa Charles, the national government would work with companies to rehabilitate the sections of the main road that were damaged by the heavy rains.

“We have come to the area to do the assessment. We have assessed so many areas, and we found that the road condition is not good,” Charles said.

“Vehicles transporting goods and people got stuck for almost a month, and people who need services from the other side are suffering. Roads are very important, so we need to build our infrastructure so that we deliver services to the people,” he added.

Travelling from Terekeka County of Central Equatoria State to the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region via Awerial is also challenging following the heavy rains that have cut off the road.

The lack of paved roads is a real issue in South Sudan where road transport is crucial for delivering aid and consumer goods.