Officials of Otogo County in South Sudan’s Yei River State say the completion of a bypass bridge at Ayisa River that links Yei and the Democratic Republic of Congo will improve humanitarian access to rural areas and enhance traffic flow along the border.

Otogo County Commissioner Anthony Ande speaking at the opening of the 48 kilometer road stretch told Radio Tamazuj over the weekend that the route is now accessible for residents and traders alike.

“This bridge was dismantled by the SPLA-IO in 2016 and it became very hard for the people to move along the road but now with the opening of this bridge today, we are sure that services can reach to the people and I am also sure people can move to Yei and from Yei to Lasu and also humanitarian agents can reach to the people in Lasu Payam with humanitarian assistance,” he said.

For his part, the minister of physical infrastructure in Yei River State Jacob Aligo Lo Ladu thanked the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR for funding the construction of the bridge.

“Before the crisis, the national ministry of roads contracted a private company to construct the road to improve traffic flow from South Sudan to Congo and I would like to thank UNHCR for re-connecting the people of Lasu Payam to Yei town,” Aligo said.

At the onset of the crisis in 2016, seven contractors working on the bridge were kidnapped by the opposition forces loyal to rebel leader Riek Machar rendering the route impassable.