Authorities in Bor, the capital of Jonglei Sate, have begun a major road repair project aimed at addressing deteriorating conditions that residents say have caused frequent accidents and hampered daily life.
The project, which started this week, seeks to level and rehabilitate roads across the town, where potholes and poor infrastructure have long been a concern.
Jacob Chiek Machar, mayor of Bor Municipal Council, told Radio Tamazuj that the initiative is being carried out in coordination with the state government.
“My office is working closely with the state leadership under Governor Riek Gai to ensure our roads are repaired,” Machar said. “This is a priority for us to make Bor a safer and more accessible town for everyone.”
Local residents have welcomed the move, citing years of frustration with road conditions.
“The condition of our roads has been terrible for years,” said Peter Ajak Ayom, a Bor resident. “I’ve seen vehicles break down constantly, and some pregnant women have even suffered miscarriages due to the rough rides. This repair work is long overdue.”
Bol Deng Bol, chairperson of INTREPID South Sudan, a local civil society group, also praised the effort and urged authorities to expand the project.
“As civil society, we commend this step and strongly encourage the mayor to expand the rehabilitation efforts to cover all roads in Bor, with priority given to major routes,” Bol said. “Poor road conditions have severely impacted daily life — disrupting businesses, endangering the vulnerable, and limiting access to hospitals, markets and essential services.”