China is suspending the crucial Juba to Rumbek Road project due to what is being cited as delayed payments.
The Government of China has suspended construction works on the strategic Juba to Rumbek via Terekeka Road linking the South Sudan Capital City with the Lake States.
The halting of the roadworks, according to official sources, was due to delays by the South Sudanese government in paying the financial obligations.
Apparently, the road project was being executed under the ‘Oil-for-infrastructure,’ agreement which was signed between the two nations.
The Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, Ma Qiang confirmed in official statements that the decision to suspend the construction of the important corridor was reached following accumulation of unpaid dues.
The envoy however, stressed that bilateral relations remain strong and that China continues to support South Sudan in oil, humanitarian aid, and capacity building while fully adhering to the principles of neutrality, encouraging dialogue, as well as supporting the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
The Juba-Rumbek Road construction project is one of the most prominent infrastructure projects funded under the “oil-for-infrastructure” agreement and is being implemented by China’s Shandong High-Speed Company.
Once completed the road is supposed to connect the capital city of Juba with agricultural production areas in Lakes State, making it pivotal in supporting economic development and reducing transportation and domestic trade costs.
This development comes as the South Sudanese government faces increasing financial pressures, particularly with oil exports through Sudan disrupted due to the ongoing conflict there, causing a significant decline in national revenue.
Despite the interruption in the infrastructural works, China reaffirmed its commitment to playing a constructive role in South Sudan’s stability and development, noting that bilateral cooperation will continue in other vital areas to serve the interests of both countries.
The road in question starts at Juba, the capital and largest city in South Sudan then travels in a general northerly direction to the town of Terekeka, also located on the western bank of the White Nile.
The first part covers a distance of approximately 75 kilometres. The second section of the road travels in a general northwesterly direction, though the towns of Tindalo and Yirol, all the way to Rumbek, a distance of 354 kilometres.