By Philip Buda Ladu
South Sudan government is facing potential loss of $67 million in World Bank funding due to delays in implementation of country’s fibre optic project, according to Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth.
The warning, conveyed by Deputy Minister of Information David Yau Yau, came after the ninth leadership meeting of the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services on Thursday chaired by Minister Michael makuei Lueth.
Mr. Yau Yau expressed concern that despite signing the agreement with the World Bank, progress on the project has been minimal.
“Since South Sudan signed the project with the World Bank, nothing tangible has been felt, and only three years remain for the project to come to an end,” Yau Yau said in a statement to the media.
The ambitious project, intended to extend fibre optic connectivity to Renk, a border town with Sudan, is crucial for improving internet access in South Sudan, where internet penetration stood at just 7.0 per cent at the start of 2023.
The World Bank pledged $67 million in July 2023 to develop broadband infrastructure, enhance public digital and financial management skills, and connect South Sudan to fibre optic networks through Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and West Africa.
The plan also aimed to extend fibre optic lines from the capital, Juba, along major highways to various parts of the country.
“The Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Michael Makuei Lueth has warned the committee implementing the fibre optics project for South Sudan to speed the implementation process, saying further delay risks the government losing 67 Million US Dollars from World Bank,” Yau Yau echoed.
The project is vital for South Sudan, where high-speed internet, or broadband, is severely lacking. Despite a 7.6 per cent increase in internet users between 2022 and 2023, the country’s connectivity remains among the lowest in the region.
The ninth leadership meeting also addressed the final draft of strategic plans for media in the upcoming elections, indicating the government’s focus on broader communication and information management.
The urgency surrounding the fibre optic project, however, highlights the critical need for swift action to secure World Bank funding and improve digital infrastructure in South Sudan.