The government of Central Equatoria has categorically denied allegations that South Sudan’s capital was relocated from Juba to Ramciel due to the state authorities’ attitude towards the government of South Sudan.
Central Equatoria government spokesperson Francis Barson Yousa told the press yesterday that claims that the state did not allocate land for the construction of the capital of the Republic near Juba were untrue, Bakhita Radio reported.
He said his government offered a piece of land to the government of the Republic to build the capital either on the west or on the east bank of the White Nile.
Mr. Barson added that the state government has no objection to the decision to move the capital from Juba to Ramciel.
He reiterated that the government of Central Equatoria did not send away the government of South Sudan from Juba since land was made available for the establishment of the national capital.
Jacob Aligo, state finance minister, said the decision of moving the capital to Ramciel came after Central Equatoria State refused to transfer its headquarters elsewhere and leave Juba under the sole control of the national government.
The national government requested 19,000 square kilometres of land east of the White Nile stretching from the Aru Junction up to Lafon Hills in Eastern Equatoria to set up the national capital.