To accelerate Ramciel's construction as the capital city,
the national government should create the Ramciel Development Commission, an
official has said.
During the 8th Governors’ Forum, First Vice President Dr.
Riek Machar emphasized that constructing Ramciel City could alleviate land
conflicts and overcrowding in Juba.
He highlighted that Juba's rapid urbanization attracts
people seeking opportunities and intensifies land disputes.
"If Ramciel becomes the capital, we might see a large
influx of people wanting to get plots in Ramciel. But as long as the capital
remains in Juba, Governor Jadala [of Central Equatoria State] must prepare to
accommodate those coming to Juba,” Dr. Machar stated.
At the close of the 8th Governors’ Forum, Leben Nelson, Head
of the Forum Secretariat, read 95 resolutions, including a recommendation
for the “national government to establish Ramciel Development Commission” to
revive the project.
Early in 2017, President Salva Kiir issued an executive
order forming a high-level committee under the leadership of then-First Vice
President Taban Deng Gai, who is currently serving as Vice President in Charge
of Infrastructure.
The committee assumed the responsibility of preparing for
the relocation of the nation's capital from Juba to the proposed site in
Ramciel.
Shortly after the committee's formation, South Sudan signed a $5 million agreement with Morocco for a feasibility study on the Ramciel project during King Mohammed VI's visit to Juba. Since then, there has been no recorded progress.
