By Hou Akot Hou
The Commissioner of Twic County in Warrap State, Mangok Kom, has received five heavy construction vehicles to support the rehabilitation of damaged roads linking Twic County with neighbouring Mayom County in Unity State.
Commissioner Kom said on Tuesday that the equipment would be used to repair long-damaged sections of the road, which have made movement difficult and hindered access to communities, particularly during security incidents.
He expressed appreciation to the Mayom County administration for allowing the construction equipment to access areas under its jurisdiction, saying the road rehabilitation is expected to begin soon.
“I am very grateful to the administration of Mayom County in Unity State, as the construction process will begin from Akot-Tong to Ajak-Kuach Payam, at the border with Abiemnhom and Unity State, where we have a lot of problems that occur as it is a volatile area,” Kom said.
The commissioner said additional equipment was expected to arrive during the week, after which the company contracted to carry out the road works and would commence operations.
“The work is going to start very soon, and this happiness is a result of the cooperation being shown by our people from Unity State,” he stated.
The road rehabilitation comes amid efforts by local authorities in the neighbouring states to strengthen cooperation and improve movement between communities affected by insecurity and poor road infrastructure.
Kom also referred to the return of more than 50 cattle to Turalei, the headquarters of Twic County, earlier in the week. He said such cooperation between local authorities should be encouraged by communities as part of efforts to reduce tensions and prevent further conflict among neighbouring communities.
He appealed to young people to reject violence and support ongoing peacebuilding initiatives between rival communities.
The commissioner also urged communities to maintain peace as South Sudan prepares for elections scheduled for December 2026, stressing the importance of stability and cooperation during the electoral period.
The rehabilitation of the road is expected to improve access between Twic and Mayom counties, particularly for communities living along the border areas.
However, challenges remain, with several provisions of the agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan still awaiting full implementation, raising concerns about the country’s political and security environment ahead of the elections.