For information on South Sudan Road Network contact details, please see the following link:
4.1 South Sudan Government Contact List
South Sudan has one of the world’s most underdeveloped roads
networks. The total estimated track length in South Sudan is
approximately 90,200km, which includes approximately 14,000 km of
primary and secondary roads, and 6000km of tertiary tracks. The
current interstate and international roads network consists of
around 5,000km of gravel roads with approximately 300km of sealed
roads. Currently only one international road, the 192km stretch
between Juba-Nimule on the Ugandan border is sealed. The majority
of other sealed roads are urban roads within the capital city Juba.
All other national, interstate and urban roads consist of badly or
non-maintained dirt roads.
The rugged land terrain, insecurity in certain areas along
transport routes, the vast distances to be covered, and the sheer
size of capital investment required, are all limiting the expansion
of the roads network and addressing the severe infrastructural
backlog currently faced by the government. The general
infrastructure and conditions of the roads makes them vulnerable to
seasonal influxes, with many roads impassable during the rainy
season for extended period of times and cutting off large areas of
the country.
All these factors contribute to relatively high transportation
costs and the Government has identified the poor condition of the
road network and infrastructure as one of the major constraints to
economic and social development. As such, the government through
its long-term development initiatives have identified road
construction and the upgrade and expansion of existing
infrastructure as a key priority.
Distance Matrix
For information on South Sudan Road network distance matrix, please see the following link:
Logistics Cluster South Sudan Road Network Distance Matrix
Road Security
Since resumption of conflict in December 2013 road travel has
become precarious. Road conditions, at best, remain assessed as
very poor, markings and very limited maintenance increasing the
security risk. Compounding this situation is the current absence of
adequate policing of the nation’s roads, resulting in dangerous
standards of driving and even in major towns there is almost no
enforcement of existing traffic regulations.
During the rainy season, many of South Sudan’s roads become
impassible and injury from motor vehicle accidents, and exposure to
other risks such as illegal checkpoints to staff traveling by road
increase. Road checkpoints are a common occurrence, especially in
large towns and cities, and in areas that have recently experienced
civil unrest.
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, and 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, Traffic from Ethiopia into Upper
Nile State can move payloads of 45MT per truck..
Axle load limits |
Sudan |
Kenya |
Uganda |
---|---|---|---|
Truck with 2 axles |
No Limits |
18,000 |
18,000 |
Truck with 3 axles |
No Limits |
24,000 |
24,000 |
Truck with 4 axles |
No Limits |
28,000 |
30,000 |
Semi-trailer with 3 axles |
No Limits |
28,000 |
28,000 |
Semi-trailer with 4 axles |
No Limits |
34,000 |
32,000 |
Semi-trailer with 5 axles |
No Limits |
42,000 |
40,000 |
Semi-trailer with 6 axles |
No Limits |
48,000 |
48,000 |
Truck & drawbar trailer with 4 axles |
No Limits |
36,000 |
38,000 |
Truck & drawbar trailer with 5 axles |
No Limits |
42,000 |
42,000 |
Truck & drawbar trailer with 6 axles |
No Limits |
48,000 |
50,000 |
Truck & drawbar trailer with 7 axles |
No Limits |
54,000 |
56,000 |
Road Class and Surface Conditions
Access constraints information is available on the following link: Logistics Cluster South Sudan Operation Page
Other information on South Sudan roads see following links:
4.1 South Sudan Government Contact List
South Sudan Road Research Centre Preliminary Report
Country Report - South Sudan’s Infrastructure: A Continental Perspective