Residents, traders and local officials in parts of northern South Sudan say road rehabilitation work carried out by Chinese peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has improved transport links and facilitated trade across several states.
The Chinese engineering contingent, based in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, began rehabilitating about 150 km of road in February, according to local authorities. The works covered sections linking Warrap State, Ruweng Administrative Area, Unity State and the Abyei Special Administrative Area.
Residents interviewed by Radio Tamazuj said the repairs had reduced travel times and improved access to markets and services.
Kat Ngor, a youth activist in Ruweng Administrative Area, said the road connecting Abiemnhom with neighbouring areas had become more accessible following the rehabilitation.
“The work has improved movement between communities and made travel easier,” Ngor said.
He said journeys between Abiemnhom and Kuajok, the capital of Warrap State, which previously took between four and six hours, now take about two hours.
Ngor added that commercial vehicles carrying passengers and goods were increasingly using the route to connect Juba with towns in northern parts of the country.
In Aweng, a town in Twic County, a roadside restaurant owner said increased traffic along the road had helped her business attract more customers.
She said she earns about 100,000 South Sudanese pounds ($US equivalent unavailable) per day selling food and tea to travellers and truck drivers.
A resident of Turalei Payam in Twic County said travel between towns in the area had become easier since the rehabilitation works were completed.
A trader in Wau who supplies goods to Aweng said transporters had continued moving commodities despite the start of the rainy season.
“The road remains passable and transportation has not faced major disruptions,” he said.
A resident of Abyei, identified only as Kiir, said commercial vehicles regularly travel between Abyei, Kuajok and Wau using the rehabilitated corridor.
Warrap State Roads and Bridges Minister Malong Akot Atem said the UNMISS engineering team had worked with state authorities on road rehabilitation projects in several locations, including Tonj South and Tonj East counties.
He said the rehabilitation of roads linking Kuajok, Twic County and Abiemnhom had improved connectivity between communities.
Bona Malual, a civil society representative in Warrap State, said the road improvements could help facilitate access to services and movement of people and goods.
UNMISS has supported road rehabilitation projects in several parts of South Sudan to improve access for civilians, humanitarian agencies and local authorities, particularly during the rainy season when many roads become difficult to use.
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