By Simon Deng
After years of conflict in South Sudan stopped projects being implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the East Asian nation has embarked on full resumption with four new bridges to be constructed in the capital Juba over the next two years.
JICA is implementing a grand project targeting improving water provision and as well as other infrastructure to a tune of $142 million in South Sudan, according to Sagara Fuyuki, the Chief Country Representative for the agency told reporters over the weekend.
“The budget for water supply project is 45 million dollars and for the freedom bridge, it is almost 97 million dollars,” Fuyuki said.
He said Freedom Bridge, across the Nile River in Juba will be completed this year and a water supply project in 2023.
The two projects were delayed by the crisis which erupted in South Sudan in 2013.
“As you know, if there is a conflict, the Japanese government orders staff to evacuate outside this country. It takes months or years to evaluate how much the security is improving, that causes the delay of the projects,” Fuyuki said.
Wani Tombe Lukak, the program officer for JICA told reporters the construction of the four bridges will run for two years from November.
“That is a kind of plan, it will be a construction of new bridges, the construction will begin somewhere in November 2022 and it will take roughly two years to complete the construction of the four bridges,” Lukak said.
“The first is Albino bridge linking Malakia to Kator, Martyrs bridge on the road from the university of Juba roundabout to military hospital, the third one is in front of Pyramid hotel and the final one is in Nimralata in front of Freedom Hospital,” he said.
