Salva Kiir, Raila Open Juba Freedom Bridge

After nearly ten years of development, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan officially opened the Juba Freedom Bridge. 

Dr. Riek Machar, First Vice President, and Raila Odinga, African Union High Representative on Infrastructure, were among those who attended the inauguration. 

The Japanese government built the bridge to relieve traffic congestion in Juba and increase economic activity in the country. 

President Salva Kiir said the bridge will serve as a connection to regional integration, boosting his country’s economic progress.

“The bridge we are inaugurating today has been a project in the work for a very long time, the need for this bridge was identified in 2011 and it was considered as a link for regional integration that will enhance economic growth,” Kiir said during the inauguration ceremony in Juba on Thursday.

Raila Odinga, African Union High Representative for Infrastructure in Africa said the viaduct will resolve the issues of transportation disruption and trade interruption between South Sudan and East Africa.

“Every bridge built is a relationship established, and freedom bridge will resolve fast the transport disruption and trade interruption between the people of South Sudan themselves and the people of East Africa,” Odinga said.

The inauguration of South Sudan’s first permanent bridge over the Nile will have a significant impact not only on social and economic activity in Juba, but also on the reliable delivery of humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons and conflict-affected people in rural areas. 

The bridge will promote peace and stability while also strengthening East Africa’s connection by providing an international corridor connecting the port of Mombasa in Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan.

The Freedom Bridge will also help to create nations through human resource development. 

The 3.6-kilometer bridge was started in 2013, but progress was suspended when fighting broke out the same year.

However, following the commencement of work in 2015, renewed fighting erupted in 2016, forcing the workforce to flee the country and the work to be postponed. 

With a total length of 560 meters, a width of 12.9 meters, and access roads on both sides totaling 3700 meters, the Freedom Bridge is South Sudan’s most important bridge.

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