The Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony has ordered the reactivation of key road projects, expanded teacher training and renewed preparations for elections as part of his New Year directives for 2026, a senior state official said Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists after an extended meeting between the governor and state officials, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Lupai Satimon Andrew said the governor used the meeting to deliver a development message to the people of Central Equatoria and to issue instructions to government institutions.
“The intention of the meeting was for His Excellency, the governor, to wish his people, the people of Central Equatorial State, a Happy New Year for this year, 2026,” Lupai said.
According to Lupai, the governor directed state institutions to implement what he described as the government’s four pillars: peace and security; keeping Juba clean and green; empowering communities through agriculture and cooperatives; and improving service delivery, including schools and roads.
“He gave the directives for the people and all the various institutions of the government to go and implement the four pillars of the government,” Lupai said.
On infrastructure, the governor instructed the Minister of Roads to resume stalled road projects linking counties and states, amid growing concern over deteriorating transport routes in Central Equatoria, particularly during the rainy season.
“He gave the Minister of Roads to go ahead and reactivate the road projects that connect the states and the county,” Lupai said.
Major roads in Central Equatoria, including routes linking Juba to surrounding counties and neighboring states, have long suffered from poor maintenance, flooding and budget constraints, limiting trade, access to services and movement of people.
The governor also ordered the Juba City Council to intensify efforts to improve sanitation and environmental management in the capital.
“He directed the City Council also to intensify working on the city to ensure that the city is clean and green,” Lupai said.
In education, the governor raised alarm over teacher quality in the state, citing findings that a majority of teachers lack formal classification.
“In the recent findings, it has come to our knowledge that Central Equatoria has 70 percent of the unclassified teachers,” Lupai said.
As a result, the governor instructed the Ministry of Education and relevant institutions to strengthen teacher training programs.
“So, as a result, His Excellency the governor directed the Minister of Education and all the concerned institutions to embark on training teachers so that we have quality teachers in our schools,” Lupai said.
The governor also called for steps to reopen the Central Equatoria State Legislative Assembly, directing the executive to work with lawmakers to restore legislative activity.
“He has also hinted for us, together with the Assembly, to organize the reopening of the Assembly,” Lupai said.
Elections were also discussed during the meeting, with the governor urging citizens to prepare to vote as South Sudan continues its prolonged transitional period.
“People must prepare and vote for their leaders so that we end up the transitional period peacefully,” Lupai quoted the governor as saying.