By Chuol Chanyong

President Salva Kiir has directed the Ministry of Transport, Dr. Lam Akol, to accelerate the development of South Sudan’s dry port in Naivasaha, Kenya.

He emphasized that improving cargo handling and transport logistics is crucial to addressing the high cost of goods in the country.  

Kiir made the remarks during the joint swearing-in ceremony for the Minister of Transport, Dr. Lam Akol, and Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Madut Biar Yel, on Friday.

In 2019, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta allocated 10 acres to South Sudan at the Naivasha Industrial Park to ease the movement of goods to the country.

The port was to see South Sudan cut the journey that it makes to Mombasa to collect and clear goods destined for Juba.

Though South Sudan had committed to building a facility at the Inland Container Depot in Naivasha industrial park, for use as a dry port, nothing has materialized to date.

However, Kiir also directed the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Madut Biar Yel, to introduce innovative reforms aimed at revitalizing the nation’s higher education system.

The head of state stressed the need to enhance academic institutions and improve the quality of education for South Sudanese students.  

Kiir urged both ministers to renew their efforts and focus more on critical sectors essential for South Sudan’s development.  

In their remarks, the two ministers pledged to work toward improving the performance of their ministries for the benefit of the nation.  

Meanwhile, representatives of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) and former detainees (FDs), who attended the event, reaffirmed their full commitment to the peace agreement.

They promised to work toward maintaining unity and peace across South Sudan.  

 South Sudan’s influential politician, Dr. Lam Akol, the leader of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), was appointed through a presidential decree on Wednesday.

The appointment marked his return to the unity government since resigning as the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in 2016.