国际英语资讯:Spotlight: South Sudan marks nine years of independence_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: South Sudan marks nine years of independence

Since the formation of the government, relative calm has returned to several parts of South Sudan, enabling thousands of displaced people and refugees to return home.

Government spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth said the signing of the peace pact in 2018 was a major achievement in the history of South Sudan.

He said the main challenge hindering the government from providing services to its people was insecurity, adding that implementation of the revitalized peace agreement would help end the problems facing South Sudan.

"We were interrupted before we could do anything. The government has been trying its best to bring peace to South Sudan," Makuei said.

The process to unify the country's many armed groups also kicked off after the formation of the unity government. Though moving slowly, the unification of armed forces would be a key step towards achieving security sector reforms in the conflict-torn country.

Since independence, the country managed to build only one tarmac road that links South Sudan to its southern neighbor Uganda. And earlier this year, a major road project linking the capital Juba to the north was launched. Once completed, the China-aided road project will be one of the biggest infrastructure development projects in South Sudan.

ROAD OF PEACE

Augustino Ting Mayai, policy analyst and director of research at the Juba-based think-tank, Sudd Institute urged the central government to prioritize development and service delivery in order to restore peace and stability in the country.