The road network in South Sudan is characterised by limited coverage and capacity, presenting significant challenges for transportation and connectivity. The road infrastructure is underdeveloped, lacking paved roads and inadequate maintenance. The road network primarily consists of unpaved and poorly maintained roads, making transportation difficult, especially during the rainy season when many roads become impassable.

Coverage of the road network is limited, particularly in remote and rural areas. Primary roads connect significant towns and cities, but access to rural communities is often limited or non-existent. This hampers economic development, access to essential services, and the movement of goods and people across the country.

One of the significant challenges facing the road network in South Sudan is the lack of investment in infrastructure development and maintenance. Limited financial resources have resulted in inadequate road maintenance, leading to further deterioration of the existing roads. This, coupled with the country's harsh climate and topography, exacerbates the challenges of maintaining the road network.

To address these challenges, the government of South Sudan has initiated national development and investment programs to improve the road network. These programs aim to expand road coverage, rehabilitate existing roads, and construct new infrastructure. The government has sought partnerships with international organisations and donor agencies to secure funding for these projects.

Despite these efforts, significant obstacles and bottlenecks remain. Insecurity and conflicts in certain regions of the country pose challenges to the implementation of road projects. Additionally, the vastness of the country and the need for extensive road construction present logistical and financial challenges.

In terms of maintenance, the government is working towards establishing sustainable maintenance programs. This includes training local personnel for road maintenance activities and procuring necessary equipment. However, a lack of resources and technical expertise remains a hurdle to effective maintenance.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Road Security

The road security situation in South Sudan remains a significant concern, posing numerous challenges and risks for pedestrians and motorists. The country's road infrastructure is relatively underdeveloped, with poorly maintained and inadequate roads exacerbating security issues. One of the primary areas of issue is the prevalence of armed conflicts and intercommunal violence, which directly impacts road safety.

In many regions of South Sudan, armed groups operate along major highways, leading to frequent road blockades, ambushes, and vehicle attacks. These incidents not only endanger travellers' lives but also impede the flow of goods and humanitarian aid across the country. Moreover, the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance from past conflicts further adds to the risks faced by road users.

Another significant issue is the lack of law enforcement and traffic management systems. The scarcity of well-trained and equipped police forces hampers their ability to patrol and regulate traffic effectively. This absence of proper enforcement allows for reckless driving behaviours, such as speeding, drunk driving, and vehicle overloading, which contribute to a high rate of accidents and fatalities on South Sudan's roads.

Additionally, the absence of proper lighting, signage, and road markings poses a significant hazard, especially during night-time travel. The lack of streetlights and reflective materials increases the chances of accidents and makes navigation more difficult. Furthermore, the inadequate communication infrastructure hampers emergency response systems, making it challenging to provide timely assistance to road accident victims.

Addressing these road security issues in South Sudan requires a comprehensive approach that includes investing in road infrastructure development, enhancing law enforcement capabilities, demining efforts, and promoting road safety awareness among the population. Only through concerted efforts and collaboration between the government, international organisations, and local communities can South Sudan make significant progress in ensuring safer roads for its citizens.

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

Currently, there are no weighbridges in the country and low capacity to enforce axle load limits.
South Sudan is adjusting to the regional axle load limits set through the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and East African Community (EAC) requirements, which is currently set at a maximum of 56 tonnes with a 0% weighbridge allowance. These requirements permit some of the highest Gross Vehicle Mass limits in the world; however, countries in the region apply these load limits differently, so vehicles travelling through the region to South Sudan will be subject to compliance with the lowest axle load limit. Note that traffic from Ethiopia into Upper Nile State can move payloads of 45MT per truck.

Road Class and Surface Conditions

For more information on the road conditions follow this link to the access constraint maps which are updated every week: https://logcluster.org/en/document/south-sudan-access-constraints-map-16-october-2023