EU Funded Road Project Brings Market Access to Northern Bahr el Ghazal

(Aweil) – Communities in Aweil South County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, are set to benefit from better access to markets, schools, and health centres following the completion and official handover of a newly rehabilitated 15 kilometre feeder road.

The Mayom Lach–Ayai road was restored through a project led by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the For Africa Organization, with financial support from the European Union Trust Fund.

The road was officially handed over to the state government in a ceremony attended by Northern Bahr el Ghazal Governor Simon Ubeer Mawut.

Speaking at the event, Governor Mawut said the road would significantly ease transportation challenges for local farmers and families.

He explained that the improved road would enable farmers to move their goods more efficiently to Aweil’s markets and allow residents, especially mothers and children, to reach health facilities more easily.

“This road has addressed several key issues, including access to markets and health services,” Governor Mawut stated. “Our people now have a safer and faster way to transport their goods and reach hospitals.”

The Head of the WFP Field Office in Aweil, Abdulaziz Noman, said the upgraded feeder road now links 36 villages, three primary schools, and two health centres. According to Noman, the road serves as a “vital lifeline” for the area.

“It improves food availability and access by linking farmers directly to local markets,” Noman said. “This road will reduce travel time, enhance food supply chains, and improve emergency access to clinics.”

In rural areas like Aweil South, poor infrastructure often limits community access to critical services. Many smallholder farmers struggle to move their harvests to trading centres, and medical access is often delayed due to impassable roads, especially during the rainy season.

WFP and its partners aim to strengthen resilience in the area and support development efforts by connecting remote populations to economic and social services by improving the Mayom Lach–Ayai road.

The European Union Trust Fund supports similar projects in South Sudan that focus on infrastructure, resilience, and food security in collaboration with humanitarian and development organisations.