BY: William Sunday D. Tor
Gold revenues are set to fund new highways, but more than 90% of Oil for Roads projects remain incomplete. Accountability, peace implementation, and legislative oversight must come first.
South Sudan stands at a crossroads: before signing new contracts for infrastructure, the government must confront past failures, enforce anti-corruption commitments, and ensure all projects follow national laws and budgetary procedures.
The announcement that gold revenues will finance the construction of three major highways has reignited a national debate over infrastructure in South Sudan. According to the City Review (January 29, 2026), the decision was approved during an Infrastructure Cluster meeting chaired by Taban Deng Gai.
While infrastructure is essential for economic growth, national integration, and access to services, history demands caution. The country’s experience with the controversial “Oil for Roads” programme remains unresolved.
In September 2025, IntelliNews reported that a United Nations commission found approximately $2.2 billion misallocated between 2021 and 2024 under Oil for Roads, with over 90% of projects left incomplete. Funds existed, but governance and accountability were lacking.
Two decades ago, in his historic speech of May 16, 2004, John Garang outlined a bold infrastructure plan: thirteen trunk roads, regional railway links, river transport revival, and hydroelectric development. Roads were to connect communities, stimulate markets, and strengthen national cohesion.
Yet more than 90% of these strategic corridors were never initiated. Many remain impassable during the rainy season. This stark contrast between vision and reality illustrates the governance failures that cannot be ignored.
Substituting oil with gold in infrastructure financing does not automatically resolve systemic weaknesses. Without full accountability for Oil for Roads, launching “Gold for Roads” risks repeating past mistakes.
Before new contracts are signed, South Sudan must:
- Conduct and publish a comprehensive independent audit of Oil for Roads.
- Disclose all contracts, payment arrangements, and beneficiaries.
- Hold individuals accountable for mismanagement or corruption.
Public trust hinges on visible accountability. Without it, no new project can inspire confidence.
National priorities must also be clear. The foremost task is the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Peace implementation — including security arrangements, constitutional reforms, and institutional restructuring — is essential for sustainable development.
Equally urgent is preparation for credible and peaceful general elections. Democratic legitimacy cannot be postponed. Resources and administrative focus must prioritize electoral readiness, civic education, and institutional strengthening.
Road construction projects must be:
- Budgeted through the national development framework and financed transparently through the annual national budget under the Ministry of Roads and Bridges.
- Approved by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA). Parliamentary oversight is a constitutional safeguard protecting public resources.
- Fully compliant with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Law — competitive bidding, transparent contracting, independent monitoring, and enforceable performance standards are essential to prevent waste and abandonment.
Natural resource revenues — whether oil or gold — should first enter the Consolidated Fund and only be disbursed through approved budgetary channels. Barter-style or off-budget arrangements obscure transparency and weaken accountability.
It is respectfully advised that H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit reconsider the proposed Gold for Roads arrangement until full accountability for Oil for Roads is achieved and institutional safeguards are strengthened.
The president must also put into practice his own words on corruption: “zero tolerance to corruption, and those who swallow public funds will be made to vomit it.” Protecting public property and ensuring state resources benefit the nation must be a visible leadership priority.
South Sudan stands at a crossroads. Implementation of R-ARCSS and preparation for democratic elections must take precedence. Infrastructure development should support peace and governance, not replace them.
Before new contracts are signed, the nation deserves answers. Roads cannot be built on unresolved questions. They must be built on accountability, legality, and public trust — otherwise, history will simply repeat itself.
William Sunday D. Tor is a South Sudanese political and media analyst and author of the book ‘South Sudan and challenges of achieving the independence objectives’. He can be reached at: williamtor2011@gmail.com.
Disclaimer
Opinions expressed by guest writers and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Nile Gazette
