Ministerial Statement

The development of infrastructure in Africa is full of challenges.  Many countries have seen significant investments result in transport networks that were poorly constructed or never maintained.  We have the benefit of these lessons learned, and will follow best practices from around the world to bring prosperity to the people of Southern Sudan.
Dr. John Garang De Mabior in his speech at the signing ceremony of the Southern Sudan peace deal (the Comprehensive Peace Agreement -CPA) in Nairobi on 9 January 2005 stated that, “The SPLM's vision for transport infrastructure is at three levels: to develop regional linkages within Southern Sudan and with the neighbours and with Northern Sudan and to involve the States and Local Communities in this infrastructure building”. Towards this, the Ministry of Transport and Roads is keen to play its part in delivery of public services and in spurring economic growth and development to raise the overall livelihood of the people of Southern Sudan.

The Ministry of Transport and Roads has prepared a Transport Sector Policy with a clear vision, mission, objectives and policy recommendations for implementation of its role in achieving GOSS objectives.
The transport sector policy developed covers the key areas of the Ministry of Transport and Roads jurisdiction and the transport sector in general. Successful implementation of the policy proposals is expected to yield a number of benefits. During the recovery period, it is expected that the policies will promote the development of a working institutional, legal and regulatory framework.  This framework coupled with continued capacity building within the Ministry will encourage investment in transport infrastructure. Growth of the transport sector will be integrated with economic development in Southern Sudan. Expanded transport sector capacity at all levels will provide the long term benefits of an improved regional transport system.

The Ministry of Transport and Roads as a leading agency will focus on the core tasks and issues to secure an efficient, effective, safe and integrated transportation system. The Ministry will be concerned with the core issues of policy, planning and regulation.
The Government will create agencies under the Ministry that will undertake separate functions for the mobilisation and allocation of resources (i.e. funding), implementation, operation and regulation of transport. The works that the private sector is better equipped to do will be “contracted out” by the regulatory and implementing agencies.
This policy framework shall serve as a guideline for the implementation of the policy actions of respective institutions and sub-sectors. Each implementing agency will be expected to translate the policies into cohesive and elaborate strategies and action plans to guide their operations.

The policy framework will also serve both as a guide for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of different policies and as a basis for reviewing the required follow-up action in the implementation process by the Ministry, the States Ministries of Infrastructure and other stakeholders. The document will thus serve as a blueprint for the general development direction of the transport sector as intended by Government of Southern Sudan.

The Ministry and implementing agencies and institutions will operate with transparent and accountable systems. The planning and operations will strive to be inclusive processes that encourage public participation at appropriate levels of decision-making.
It is our mission to provide a level of service that reflects the importance of transport infrastructure and transportation services for the future of Southern Sudan and ask for the support of GOSS and the co-operation of all ministries, stakeholders, development partners and donors.   

H. E.  David Deng Athorbei
Minister for Transport and Roads
Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS)