The European Union (EU) on Thursday officially handed over a 163-meter-long Nyamlel Bridge, built across the Lol River, to the Ministry of Roads and Bridges in Aweil West County.
The EU-funded project implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), commenced in August 2020, and was partially opened to the public in May 2023.
UNOPS undertook the US$13.7 million, Nyamlel Bridge, 44km feeder roads, and seven WASH facilities that directly benefit over 750,000 people by connecting Aweil North and Aweil West counties and Sudan.
National Roads and Bridges Minister Simon Mijok Mijak, Deputy Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State Governor Dr Tong Lual Ayat, and the EU Ambassador Timo Olkkonen, among other stakeholders, attended the handover ceremony.
“Completing 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. The bridge will also facilitate the movement of refugees and returnees from Sudan and boost trade. It is a tangible and valuable asset for local communities,” Mijak said.
The project created direct employment to 1,260 people, including 200 women.
UNOPS Country Manager Petronella Halwiindi, applauded the EU for the generous funding.
“The completion of these essential feeder roads and WASH facilities has improved access to clean water, healthcare, education and agricultural inputs. These enhancement combined have led to a reduction in transaction costs and the emergence of community mobile markets along the routes, contributing to improved livelihoods for local communities,” Ms Halwindi said.
“The project and the bridge’s completion have elevated the living standards for more than 1.2 million women, men, and children. UNOPS remains committed to working closely with its partners in South Sudan to build durable solutions to development challenges,” Halwindi said.
Ambassador Olkkonen noted that decades of armed conflict and climate change had destroyed the road network in South Sudan.
“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 said.
“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 invest on 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,” Olkkonen added.
The EU Trust project was designed to complement the successes of previous EU-funded initiatives in Northern and Western Bahr el-Ghazal, where rural infrastructure development has led to significant improvements in connectivity and access to essential services.