The road serves as a vital lifeline for communities living in both the highland and midland areas, facilitating the movement of goods and people between South Sudan and Sudan.
The rehabilitation exercise was launched on Wednesday by Northern Bahr el Ghazal Governor Charles Madut Akol, accompanied by Aweil East County Commissioner Garang Thiang Deng and local officials from Majok-Yith-Thiou. The works are being carried out by Ann Company Limited under a newly awarded contract.
Speaking on Thursday, Majok-Yith-Thiou Deputy Mayor for Planning and Budgeting James Thou Apath said the project was initiated and funded by clearing agents operating at the border, who contributed an initial SSP 20 million to address the deteriorating condition of the road.
“We are glad to inform the public that the clearing agents at Majok-Yith-Thiou Border Town, who depend on this road as the only lifeline connecting Sudan and Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, contributed around SSP 20 million from their own resources and appealed to the governor to support the rehabilitation efforts,” Apath said.
He explained that after witnessing the commitment demonstrated by the clearing agents, Governor Akol pledged to provide fuel to support the rehabilitation works, particularly in the most damaged sections of the highway.
“Looking at the efforts made by the clearing agents, the governor committed to supplying fuel to the company operating the heavy machinery so that repairs can continue in the most affected areas,” he said.
According to Apath, the rehabilitation team has already reached the War-Awar area and is progressing toward Majok-Yith-Thiou. He noted that workers operating the heavy equipment are paid daily in US dollars.
“Each day, we pay about 450 US dollars to the operators of the heavy machinery. The work is progressing well despite the financial challenges,” he said.
Apath acknowledged that the available funds may not be sufficient to rehabilitate the entire road but said priority would be given to the worst-affected sections that frequently become impassable during the rainy season.
“We are focusing on the most critical and cut-off points along the road because the resources available may not be enough to fully rehabilitate the entire stretch. The clearing agents are continuing to contribute according to their financial capacity,” he added.
The poor state of the road has long been a source of frustration for traders and transporters, who often endure delays, vehicle breakdowns, and losses of goods while travelling between Sudan and South Sudan.
Simon Garang, a trader who regularly transports goods between Sudan and Kampala, described the challenges faced by transporters along the route.
“It is extremely costly when vehicles get stuck. Sometimes trucks veer off the road, and goods fall into water. You then have to hire people to recover the cargo, and there is always a risk of looting during the process,” he said.
Local authorities and traders hope the ongoing rehabilitation will restore efficient transportation and improve service delivery along the corridor. Governor Akol has also pledged continued support for the works by providing fuel to ensure smooth progress toward Al Mareem in Sudan’s South Kordofan State.
