The infrastructure minister in Abyei Special Administrative Area (ASAA) on Wednesday said that his office and the engineering team of the Vietnam People’s Army that serves in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) jointly renovated the vital Awuolnhom Bridge and are currently rehabilitating bad roads in the area.
The bridge, which has a 10 metric ton capacity, is a key link between Sudan and South Sudan was destroyed in 2011 when the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), now the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) clashed in Abyei.
Kon Manyiet Matiok, the Abyei minister of physical infrastructure, told Radio Tamzuj on Wednesday that they carried out an assessment two weeks ago, and the bridge was repaired on Tuesday.
“We held several meetings concerning deteriorated roads and bridges and I thank Abyei Chief Administrator Justice Charles Abyei Jok for pushing the process. He contacted the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) base commander to provide us with technical support to repair Awuolnhom Bridge,” he disclosed. “The government purchased nails and other spare parts for the bridge, which was repaired on Tuesday. The road from Abyei, Awuolnhom, and Kadhiang is also being rehabilitated.”
“Our next plan is to repair Yura and Manyang Lor bridges, and we have resumed survey as part of town planning, and this is with support from Denish Refugees Council (DRC),” Minister Manyiet added.
He also revealed that his ministry installed a piped water network in Abyei Town and some counties and that broken water yards are going to be repaired during the next dry season.
Meanwhile, Yuohna Akol, Abyei Administrative Area spokesperson, confirmed that several roads have been fixed.
“The road connecting Abyei, Akecnhial, and Aneet is completely renovated and finished, and this is precisely why the government spent money as capital expenditure,” he said. “The work is being facilitated by the Vietnamese technical team of UNISFA. They repaired the old bridge of Awuolnhom, a bridge that cost many lives and properties in the past years.”
Minister Akol said the bridge was partially repaired by Ethiopian troops in UNISFA in 2012. He emphasized the bridge’s importance, saying it connects northern and southern Abyei.