Juba and Nairobi Agree to Fast-Track Juba–Torit–Nadapal Road

JUBA, South Sudan — September 1, 2026

South Sudan and Kenya have agreed to speed up work on the Juba–Torit–Kapoeta–Nadapal road, a major transport corridor expected to improve trade and movement between the two countries.

South Sudan’s Minister of Roads and Bridges, Peter Lam Both, announced the development after returning to Juba from Nairobi, where he participated in high-level bilateral discussions between South Sudan and Kenya.

The road connects Juba through Torit and Kapoeta to Nadapal on the Kenyan border. Once developed, the corridor would provide South Sudan with a more direct connection to Kenya and its regional transport network.

The project is particularly important for trade. South Sudan is landlocked and depends heavily on neighboring countries for access to international markets and seaports. The Juba–Nadapal corridor is designed to connect with Kenya’s road network toward major commercial centres and the port of Mombasa.

South Sudanese officials have argued that completing the road could reduce transportation costs and shorten the journey for goods moving between Mombasa and Juba. Foreign Affairs Minister James Pitia Morgan made a similar case during talks with Kenyan officials in Nairobi in July.

The road project has been discussed by the two governments for several years, but sections on the South Sudanese side have faced delays. Previous regional infrastructure plans identify the corridor as an important route for improving connectivity, regional integration and cross-border trade.

The latest announcement signals renewed efforts by Juba and Nairobi to move the project forward. However, the official announcement did not provide a new completion date, detailed construction timetable or financing package.

If completed, the corridor could make it easier and potentially cheaper to move goods between Kenya and South Sudan while giving businesses another important route into Juba and other parts of the country.