With S. Sudan, infrastructure is all that counts

The two biggest stories in the region in the past week have all been about our northern neighbours. Somalia has been in the news with thousands of its people fleeing to northern Kenya’s Daabab refugee camp and of course the independence of South Sudan. The region is actually experiencing a real food crisis with food shortages already reported in much of Kenya as well as parts of north eastern Uganda. All this calls for serious reflection on the issue of population and food security in the region. As for our brothers in Juba, South Sudan is no longer just on paper. It is officially an independent country. Africa’s 54th state as well the United Nations 193rd member. With its flag flying high in New York, it is time to get down working to address the myriad of problems the new nation has been born with. No disrespect but the fact is, S. Sudan has kicked off its birth on a very vulnerable position and it will need a concerted effort if it is to escape being Africa’s next poster child for the stereotypical failed state. The country lacks major infrastructure as well as skilled personnel to steer its development thanks in part to the neglect it suffered at the hands of the Northern Arabs, as well as the years of war that made development impractical. With all that out of the way, the country quickly needs to find its feet in order to see the fruits of decades of struggle. In several media outlets, the membership of South Sudan in the EAC is often presented as a foregone conclusion. It is indeed a good idea for South Sudan to join the EAC, but what we need to ask ourselves is whether the EAC has done enough to prepare itself for this imminent development. The old age adage on chance favouring the prepared does come to mind at this point. So how prepared is the EAC to embrace South Sudan but more importantly, to help our new brothers to develop. It definitely sounds like a tough question considering that none of the EAC members can be comfortably referred to as developed. So how are underdeveloped countries intending to help another underdeveloped one? Basically, all South Sudan needs from the EAC is skilled labour and good infrastructure and they will be good to go. I will want to believe that there is enough skilled labour to go around especially, if you consider the thousands of graduates that are being churned out by the numerous universities in the region. My concerns are with the state of the infrastructure in the region. For the last five years, the issue of South Sudan’s independence has been a matter of when not if. Uganda spent years openly supporting the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement/Army led by the late Dr. John Garang. Kenya played a key role in the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that brought an end to years of war and set in motion the process of South Sudan’s independence. In such a situation, smart neighbours would have embarked on putting in place al the vital infrastructure that South Sudan needed in order to deal with its neighbours easily. The EAC members need to find ways of making South Sudan face south instead of north when it comes to trade. Good macadamised roads connecting Juba to Gulu in Uganda and to Eldoret in Kenya should have been constructed long before the country got its independence. To cut the costs of cargo transportation, EAC members should have also constructed a rail line linking Juba to major EAC towns. Along with a rail line, a pipeline to ensure that South Sudan oil flows to our side would be a very smart move. Right now all the pipelines run north to Sudan yet Kenya also has oil refineries. With Uganda having found oil too, a joint refinery and shared pipelines will be strategic investments. Major regional airlines must also add Juba to their routes. It is basically not enough for other East African countries to simply export food and drinks to South Sudan. We need lasting trade and development links hinged on good infrastructure. The time to have good roads, railways or pipelines is indeed yesterday. Our leaders and policy makers need to fast track the major infrastructural projects that will not only make the region a great investment destination but also help our South Sudan brothers to find their feet as far as development is concerned. That way we can have South Sudan join the EAC with no regrets or hesitation. ssenyonga@gmail.com