The rehabilitation of roads has started in parts of South Sudan’s Jonglei State, a government official has said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj over the weekend, Elijah Mabior Bol, the state housing and public utility minister said the repair and construction work on the road which links the state capital, Bor, to the rest of the counties started last week. 

“The World Food Programme (WFP) took it upon itself to build that road from Bor to Twic East County. It starts from somewhere called Charakou, about 11 kilometers north of Bor town, leading to Mathiang, Jalle, Maar, Paliou, Wangole, Panyagoor, and up to a place called Mabior. About 12 kilometers of the 94 km road have already been covered,” he said.

The minister pointed out that the road will help in the delivery of food to remote counties of Jonglei, and also act as a dyke during the rainy season.

“The level of the road will be raised to a reasonable height so it will act as a dyke. And it will also help reduce the cost of food transportation to the vulnerable people in northern parts of Jonglei like Duk, Ayod, and Yuai,” he said.

Twic East County resident, Bior Ajang, welcomed the repair of the roads, saying it will help connect them to Bor after being cut off for months without access to basic goods and medical services.

“I welcome this initiative because it will pave the way for development. Now to access Twic East County it takes up to two days footing. And with the road coming from Juba, services will now be available,” he said.

David Garang Goc of Jonglei Civil Society Network lashed out at the ongoing road construction works, saying the government should have prioritized dyke construction.

“As the rains are approaching, these roads will not be of any use. The government should construct the dyke first to control the floods,” Goc said.