November 20, 2023
The cabinet instructed the four ministers to review the agreement signed between the governments of Ethiopia and South Sudan on the construction of roads.
Speaking to the journalists after the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, the government spokesperson, Michael Makuei, said the cabinet listened to the presentation from the minister of finance and planning, Bak Barnaba Chol, on the agreement signed by the two governments for the construction of the Paloch-Mathiang-Maiwut-Pagak road, which connects the two countries.
“This project, of course, is a project that was negotiated earlier. There was an agreement that was signed, but this agreement was not presented to the cabinet. After thorough deliberation, the cabinet found that there were observations in the agreement that was signed, and as such, it was passed with reservations.”
According to Makuei, the cabinet instructed the minister of finance and planning, Dr. Bak Barnaba; the minister of justice and constitutional affairs, Ruben Madol; the minister of roads and bridges, Simon Mijak; and the minister of petroleum, Puot Kang, to flash out all these reservations with the Ethiopian government, which, if agreed upon, will be presented to the transitional national legislative assembly for ratification. He said they are to report to the cabinet with a concrete report on the matter.
In May of this year, the governments of South Sudan and Ethiopia signed an agreement to build a highway joining the two countries.
The agreement was signed by the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Dier Tong Ngor, on behalf of South Sudan, while Ethiopia’s Deputy Finance Minister, Eyop Tekalign, signed on behalf of his government.
According to the Presidential Press Unit, President Salva Kiir said the cross-border highway project would strengthen economic ties as well as enhance the free movement of people and goods in the Horn of Africa.
Former Minister of Finance Dr Dier Tong Ngor said, “When the road is completed, it will reduce the cost of doing business in the region.”
Ethiopia’s Deputy Finance Minister, Eyop Tekalign, described the project as a significant and historic development. Tekalign said the project will bring people together.