By: Ginaba Lino
The Minister of Roads and Bridges, Peter Lam Both, has announced a new vision to transform South Sudan’s road infrastructure by 2026, emphasizing the need to engage competent international companies capable of financing and constructing roads through resource-backed agreements.
In an interview during the National breakfast prayer in Juba, Minister Lam said the ministry plans to partner with credible firms that possess both the technical capacity and financial resources to construct major highways using the country’s natural resources such as oil, minerals, and agricultural produce as collateral.
“We have to look for international companies that are competent and have their own resources to come and construct our roads using the collateral of oil for infrastructure, as well as other resources,” Lam said.
“You cannot construct roads in the country by paying cash. That doesn’t work anywhere in the world. We believe this approach will help us build roads in the shortest possible time.”
The minister explained that South Sudan has approximately 10,000 kilometers of major highways, which are crucial for connecting states and facilitating trade with neighboring countries.
He added that the ministry is proposing to open an escrow account abroad to manage infrastructure funds transparently and attract credible investors.
“If we are allowed to open an escrow account where the oil-for-infrastructure funds can be deposited with a credible creditor, it will attract more investment to the country,” Lam noted.
Lam emphasized that improved road networks will not only enhance trade and economic growth but also unite the people of South Sudan by linking communities across states.
“When the road passes from Central Equatoria all the way to Renk County in Upper Nile State, it connects people and promotes national integration,” he said.
The Ministry of Roads and Bridges’ new vision seeks to move beyond short-term projects toward a sustainable, resource-backed infrastructure strategy, which Lam believes will accelerate development and strengthen unity across the nation.