
08/11/2024
Breaking News:
The Toposa community in Eastern Equatoria State has disputed the ongoing of road construction project from Nadapal to Nakodok.
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As Kenyan President William Ruto in his recent visit to Juba on Wednesday stressed the resuming of the project, the local community were reacting to a joint communique issued about the 11-kilometre road through Nadapal to Kadodok.
Kenya’s National Security Advisor Dr. Monica Juma said the two leaders discussed on the construction of 11-kilometer road connecting Nadapal to Nakodok, a project aimed at enabling trade and movement between the two nations, according to a statement from President Kiir’s office.
Toposa Chairperson Paul Napwon warned that any Kenyan-led construction beyond Nadapal is unacceptable, adding that the community only supports the South Sudan-led road development agreement from Juba to Nadapal, supported by the World Bank.
The Toposa community’s position comes amid a longstanding border dispute between South Sudan and Kenya in the area, with both nations seeking to expand infrastructure and enhance cross-border connectivity.
Mr. Napwon insists any development initiative at the border must await the findings of the Joint Technical Committee, a body formed to study and resolve the ongoing boundary issues between the two nations.
“To us as the Toposa community, that is our land and with due respect to our government, we don’t want to get into problems, we don’t want fighting,” he said.
“Kenya should remain at least to where they are at the moment until the time when the Joint Technical Committee that was formed has to study and find a solution to this problem.”
Napwon reiterated his community’s desire for peaceful resolution and constructive engagement from both governments.
He urged the South Sudan government to consider the indigenious concerns and respect their historical and cultural ties to the land.