South Sudan’s Minister of Roads and Bridges Simon Mijok Mijak announced a significant road construction project between South Sudan and Ethiopia.

The minister said the idea of the highway construction linking the Upper Nile region in South Sudan and the Gambella region of Ethiopia which is set to begin next year is good news to the people of South Sudan.

“Today [Wednesday] we have good news for the people of South Sudan and the people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on the financing agreement signed in 2023,” he said.

“It was signed on May 18, 2023, on financing road connectivity between the two countries. The road connects Gambella, Fagak, Maiwut, Mathiang and Paloch. This is an important connectivity for regional integration,” he expressed.

Mijak said the South Sudan Cabinet started the legal framework, then the National Legislative Assembly tabled the project and the Ethiopian Parliament finally agreed for the implementation of the highway construction.

He added that the initiative is shared by four countries to establish a transport corridor linking Djibouti, Addis Ababa, Juba and Kampala to enhance connectivity between the four nations which are Djibouti, Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Trade between Ethiopia and South Sudan has increased in recent years, with both countries exporting more volumes to each other.

In 2022, Ethiopia exported $7.98 million to South Sudan, up from $2.38 million in 2017. The main exports were sorghum, hard liquor, and dried legumes.

While in the same year 2022, South Sudan exported more to Ethiopia than it did in 2017, with exports increasing from $5.31 thousand to $15.2 thousand. The main exports were paper containers, plastic lids, and iron housewares.

“It was signed on May 18, 2023, on financing road connectivity between the two countries. The road connects Gambella, Fagak, Maiwut, Mathiang and Paloch. This is an important connectivity for regional integration,” said Minister of Roads and Bridges Simon Mijok Mijak. By James Chatim, City Review