Freedom Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 4°48′39″N31°36′13″E / 4.81083°N 31.60361°E |
| Crosses | Nile River |
| Official name | Freedom Bridge |
| Location | |
 | |
The Freedom Bridge in Juba, South Sudan, is South Sudan's second permanent bridge over the Nile, the first being the Juba Nile Bridge, a Bailey type bridge built in 1976. The new bridge was officially opened on 19 May 2022. [1]
In 2012, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grants agreement with the Republic of South Sudan. [2] The grants amounted to 4.1 billion yen; approximately US$52 million. Some of the grants were used for the construction of a new bridge over the White Nile River to relieve traffic congestion in Juba and improve the transportation capacity and connectivity of South Sudan. The new proposed Freedom Bridge funded by (JICA) would be 560 meters long with sufficient width for both east and west bound traffic and a pedestrian sidewalk. The Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan said "the new bridge will serve as a reminder to the people of South Sudan to maintain peace and be free from violence." The project was put on hold at the end of 2013 due to what was effectively the outbreak of the South Sudanese civil war in the country.
On 19 March 2015, South Sudan President Salva Kiir ceremoniously broke ground in Juba on a Japanese-funded, $91-million project to build a new bridge across the River Nile. It was expected to be completed in 2018, and boost South Sudan's economy. [3]
On 26 December 2016, The South Sudanese government called for the resumption of construction of the bridge, which would support the transport of supplies and the development of the area. Earlier in the year, Japanese aid workers evacuated the country due to a resumption of fighting in the country. Without the return of staff from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which was building the bridge, there was no resumption of the construction in sight. [4]
On 14 June 2017, JICA re-assured the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) of its commitment in the completion of the suspended projects, like the Japanese-funded construction of Freedom Bridge along the Nile and the project for provision of clean water in Juba, which had been suspended until peace was restored and security improved in the country. [5] In November 2021, the Japanese resident engineer Omeda Norio told reporters that the Freedom Bridge would be opened on 5 July 2022. [6]
On 19 May 2022, during the opening of the Freedom Bridge, those involved were the President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Vice-President Riek Machar, AU infrastructure envoy Raila Amollo Odinga and as well as the head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Akihiko Tanaka who made his first overseas visit since assuming office [7]
Rumbek is the capital of Lakes State, central South Sudan.
Salva Kiir Mayardit, also known as Salva Kiir, is a South Sudanese politician who has been the President of South Sudan since its independence on 9 July 2011. Prior to independence, he was the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, as well as First Vice President of Sudan, from 2005 to 2011. He was named Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in 2005, following the death of John Garang.
The politics of South Sudan concern the system of government in the Republic of South Sudan, a country in East Africa, and the people, organizations, and events involved in it.
The States of South Sudan were created out of the three historic former provinces of Bahr el Ghazal (northwest), Equatoria (southern), and Greater Upper Nile (northeast). The states are further divided into 79 counties.
Southern Sudan was an autonomous region consisting of the ten southern states of Sudan between its formation in July 2005 and independence as the Republic of South Sudan in July 2011. The autonomous government was initially established in Rumbek and later moved to Juba. It was bordered by Ethiopia to the east; Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south; and the Central African Republic to the west. To the north lies the predominantly Arab and Muslim region directly under the control of the central government. The region's autonomous status was a condition of a peace agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) and the Government of Sudan represented by the National Congress Party ending the Second Sudanese Civil War. The conflict was Africa's longest running civil war.
South Sudan, officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in eastern Central Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Kenya, and includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd, formed by the White Nile and known locally as the Bahr al Jabal, meaning "Mountain Sea". The population was 11,088,796 in 2023, and Juba is the capital and largest city. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011, making it the most recent sovereign state or country with widespread recognition as of 2024.
Stephen Dhieu Dau Ayik is South Sudanese politician, banker by profession, and financial technocrat. He is a proven professional and held various cabinet positions in the Government of the Republic of South Sudan. He is a senior member of Sudan’s People Liberation Movement (SPLM) and had served in various cabinet positions. Stephen Dhieu Dau was the Minister of Finance and Planning until March 2018 in the RSS. He served as Minister of Petroleum and Mining and Minister of Commerce and Industry. Stephen Dhieu Dau is from Melut County, Upper Nile State, and belongs to the Nyiel section of the Padang Dinka ethnic group. In October 2022, President Salva Kiir appointed Stephen Dhieu Dau as the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Revenue Authority. In December 2022, He was appointed as a member of the SPLM Political Bureau.
India–South Sudan relations are the bilateral ties between the Republic of India and the Republic of South Sudan. India recognised South Sudan on 9 July 2011, the day South Sudan became an independent state. India maintains an embassy at Juba, and South Sudan maintains an embassy in New Delhi.
Water supply in Southern Sudan is faced with numerous challenges. Although the White Nile runs through the country, water is scarce during the dry season in areas that are not located on the river.
Philippines–South Sudan relations refers to the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and South Sudan. The Philippines recognized South Sudan as a sovereign state nearly a month after it declared its independence on 9 July 2011. The Philippine embassy in Nairobi has jurisdiction over South Sudan since March 2013. This was held previously by Philippine embassy in Cairo.
China–South Sudan relations refers to the bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Sudan. China recognized South Sudan's independence on July 9, 2011.
The South Sudanese Civil War was a multi-sided civil war in South Sudan between forces of the government and opposition forces. In December 2013, President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar and 10 others of attempting a coup d'état. Machar denied trying to start a coup and fled to lead the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO). Fighting broke out between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and SPLM-IO, igniting the civil war. Ugandan troops were deployed to fight alongside the South Sudanese government. The United Nations has peacekeepers in the country as part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Kenya–South Sudan relations are bilateral relations between South Sudan and Kenya. South Sudan is a strategic partner of Kenya in many areas. Both countries have cultural similarities as many people from South Sudan lived in Kenya before independence.
Terekeka State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Equatoria region and it bordered Amadi, Eastern Lakes, Imatong, Jonglei, and Jubek. It has an estimated population of 176,030 in 2014, and the capital and largest city of the state is Terekeka, South Sudan.
Boma State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and was formerly part of the state of Jonglei. The state bordered Akobo State, Imatong State, Jonglei State, Kapoeta State, Bieh State, Terekeka State and the country of Ethiopia to the east.
Fashoda State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan, and it bordered the country of Sudan to the north, and the southern Sudanese states of Eastern Nile to the east, Western Bieh to the southwest, and Ruweng to the west.
The Juba Nile Bridge is composed of two adjacent 252 meter spans over the White Nile in Juba, South Sudan, on the Juba-Nimule Road, and until 2022 provided the only access over the River Nile to South Sudan. It was built in 1972 during the regime of General Gaafar Nimeiry, from two World War II era bridges and it cost $2.5 million at the time. It was re-opened in January 2012 after major repair works following an accident in 2010 which left one lane of the bridge unusable for heavy vehicles. A new bridge, the Freedom Bridge, costing over 92 million dollar, was opened in 2022 a small distance upstream.
This article lists events from the year 2019 in South Sudan
Aguil Chut Deng Acouth, also known as Aguil de'Chut Deng or Aguil Chut-Deng, was a South Sudanese revolutionary and activist. She was a member of "Katiba Banat", the women's battalion of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), during the Second Sudanese Civil War.
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