![Newly constructed Nyamlel Bridge. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/8930196a-2cfb-4cc9-a064-e2d457208c15.png?resize=1600%2C870&ssl=1)
Funded by the European Union under the “European Union Trust Fund – Feeder Roads Project,” the bridge project was implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and began in August 2020.
The bridge was partially opened to the public in May 2023 and is now fully operational. In addition to the Nyamlel Bridge, the EU funding supported the construction of 44 kilometers of feeder roads and seven WASH facilities in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal states, totaling an investment of 13 million euros.
Connecting Aweil North and Aweil West counties with neighboring Sudan, the bridge directly benefits over 750,000 residents by improving access and enhancing regional connectivity.
The handover ceremony was attended by Simon Mijok Mijak, the National Minister of Roads and Bridges, Deputy Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Dr. Tong Lual Ayat, and the EU Ambassador to South Sudan, H.E. Timo Olkkonen, along with other stakeholders and officials.
National Minister of Roads and Bridges Simon Mijok Mijak highlighted the bridge’s role in enhancing regional security, stating that “the completion of this project has significantly enhanced security, enabling our security forces to reach remote areas more quickly and preventing many from drowning while crossing the river.”
He further noted that the bridge will facilitate the movement of refugees and returnees from Sudan and support trade by improving the transport of goods.
“It is a tangible and valuable asset for local communities, providing safe, faster, and more reliable access to services and markets,” Mijok added.
The project has created direct employment for 1,260 people, including 200 women. UNOPS Country Manager Ms. Petronella Halwiindi commended the EU’s financial support, noting that
“the completion of these essential feeder roads and WASH facilities has improved access to clean water, healthcare, education, and agricultural inputs. These enhancements have collectively reduced transaction costs and foster mobile markets along the routes, improving livelihoods for local communities,” he said.
Ms. Halwiindi also emphasized the broader impact of the project, stating that the new infrastructure has elevated living standards for more than 1.2 million people in the region.
“UNOPS remains committed to working closely with its partners in South Sudan to build durable solutions to development challenges,” she added.
EU Ambassador Olkkonen reflected on the toll decades of armed conflict and climate change have taken on South Sudan’s infrastructure, stating, “I am happy to witness the milestone achieved today in Nyamlel. The EU has been supportive of the development and resilience of South Sudan’s economy.”
He underscored the broader significance of the bridge, saying, “The bridge and the feeder road improvements have made daily life easier for citizens and represent a tangible outcome of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, which invests in better connectivity infrastructure to promote sustainable development globally. Now it is essential that authorities ensure the maintenance of the infrastructure for the benefit of the people so that the value of this important development investment is not lost.”
The EU Trust Fund project was developed to build upon and complement previous EU-funded initiatives in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal, where rural infrastructure development has improved access to essential services.
The current project addressed gaps left by earlier initiatives, which were constrained by budget limitations, culminating in the construction of the Nyamlel Bridge—a vital connection between Aweil North and West counties.
