By Yiep Joseph
A civil society activist has called on members of parliament to block the $2 billion roads project endorsed by the Cabinet, citing concerns over transparency and accountability.
On Friday, the Council of Ministers, chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, approved a $2 billion road development project reportedly backed by the country’s gold reserves.
According to government officials, the project is intended to facilitate the construction of strategic roads to boost the country’s economy.
As the agreement awaits parliamentary deliberation, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has urged lawmakers to suspend the deal until proper procedures are followed and full details of the contract are made public.
In an interview, Yakani said the appeal is anchored in the need for transparency and accountability, warning against repeating the mistakes of the previous “oil-for-roads” arrangement.
“The mistake of oil-for-roads should not be repeated through gold-for-roads. Our natural resources must benefit the citizens of South Sudan, not burden future generations with opaque and potentially exploitative agreements,” Yakani said.
He emphasized that agreements involving strategic national resources such as gold must undergo full parliamentary scrutiny, public disclosure, and independent oversight to ensure the process benefits the South Sudanese people.
“CEPO is urging lawmakers to suspend approval of the deal until full contract details are made public,” he added.
Yakani further called on parliamentarians to conduct a comprehensive economic and legal review of the agreement and to engage civil society and economic experts in open consultations.
While acknowledging the importance of infrastructure development, he stressed that such projects should not compromise economic independence and long-term stability.
“Development should not mortgage the future of our children,” he said.
In a separate interview, economist John Buol also highlighted the importance of transparency in managing public resources and large-scale projects.
Although he welcomed the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, Buol stressed that all necessary procedures must be followed.
“Yes, it is a good idea to approve funding for road projects, but it is very important to ensure that all necessary procedures are followed to guarantee transparency and accountability,” Buol said.
He urged relevant institutions to coordinate effectively to ensure the projects are completed within the agreed timeframe and budget.
“I am calling on the government to ensure that the project is implemented within the timeframe and with the allocated resources,” he added.
Buol commended the government for prioritizing infrastructure development but reiterated that accountability remains crucial to achieving sustainable results.
Civil society organizations have pledged to continue advocating for transparency and responsible management of the country’s natural resources.