By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Juba is set for a significant transformation as City Council Mayor Christopher Sarafino Wani unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at overhauling the capital’s infrastructure and waste management systems. In a high-level briefing with Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony, the Mayor detailed the planned upgrade of approximately 15 major internal roads and presented new strategies designed to modernize waste collection across the city.
This reform plan directly aligns with the Governor’s vision of Juba as the “mirror through which the image of the country is reflected.” While addressing the Central Equatoria State Assembly during its third official reopening earlier this week, Governor Adil emphasized that as the capital of South Sudan and the seat of the State Government, keeping the city clean and green is a collective responsibility.
To support this vision, the Governor has declared littering a crime and set a goal to plant one million trees along streets and residential areas to promote environmental sustainability.
In response to the Mayor’s briefing, Governor Adil commended the responsive approach to the State’s strategic pillars and called for sustained efforts to meet the service delivery expectations of residents.
This briefing follows his recent address to state policymakers, where the Governor underscored that the administration will prioritize a comprehensive urban development plan to address persistent unhealthy environments. “Maintaining a clean city is a collective responsibility, requiring active partnership between the city council and the general public,” the Governor stated.
To ensure the effectiveness of these reforms, the Governor directed the Juba City Council to undertake aggressive civic education campaigns and develop a proper waste management plan that identifies areas generating huge waste quantities. This plan includes the placement of public waste bins in markets, streets, schools, health facilities, and bus parks.
Additionally, the council is expected to organize regular waste collection campaigns with stakeholders while encouraging the recycling and reuse of plastic and metallic materials.
Beyond infrastructure and cleaning, the reform agenda includes strengthening law and order to ensure a safe city environment. In his earlier speech to the state assembly members, Governor Adil urged the Mayor to continue the reorganization of markets and maintain coordination with security organs.
To professionalize operations, the Governor mandated that rate collectors be provided with uniforms and badges, while a digital revenue system is established to streamline collections. These measures, aimed at keeping Juba “clean, green, and safe,” are to be enacted through bylaws that incriminate littering and impose heavy fines on violators.