South Sudan and Ethiopia signed an agreement on Thursday to build a highway linking the two countries.
The agreement was signed in the Office of the President by the two finance ministers of the two countries – Dr Dier Tong Ngor of South Sudan and Eyop Tekalign of Ethiopia.
“President Kiir said the cross-border highway project would strengthen economic ties as well as enhance the free movement of people and goods in the Horn of Africa,” the statement reads.
Tekalign described the project as a significant and historic development, saying the project will bring people of the two countries together.
For his part, Tong said: “When the road is completed, it will reduce the cost of doing business in the region.”
South Sudan is a landlocked country with the challenge of roads connecting it to the neighboring countries in the region.
The country recently embarked on road developments connecting the states and the neighboring countries.
So far, the only paved road linking it to the East African region is the 192-km Juba-Nimule, which was built by USAID and handed it over to the government in 2012.
