Posted in Africa, Stories that I wrote at work on October 22, 2010|
I wrote this story for “In Sudan” magazine October 2010 edition. To see the full magazine please click on the image below & my story is on page 11.
The onset of the rainy season is a welcome event for farmers in Upper Nile State. But for minibus taxi drivers and other motorists in the state capital of Malakal, it can be a curse.
The clay soil of the city and environs has poor drainage and turns slick, sticky and heavy when the skies open up. Not only is Malakal transformed into one big mud bowl, but the roads leading out of the city are soon rendered impassable.
Malakal road during rainy season
That cuts into the monthly income of Malakal taxi driver Famed John, who must forego the more lucrative fares he charges for out-of-town trips during the rainy season and settle for the one-pound per passenger rides in and around the city.
“Our income decreases during the rainy season because we are unable to drive passengers outside Malakal,” he said. “We limit ourselves within the town because of the road conditions.”
His colleague Simon Red dreads the effects of precipitation on grounds of safety. “The roads are very slippery,” said the veteran taxi driver. “It can cause an accident if we cannot control our (steering) wheel.”
During this time of year, the only options available to Malakal residents wishing to get out of town are the Nile River or a sturdy pair of legs.
“If the (destination) is by the river, such as Doleib Hill, I can go by boat,” said journalist Andrew Bang of the Upper Nile State Ministry of Information and Communication. “Otherwise I have to walk, no matter how far the place is.”
Kun Minylang Ding has heard it all before. As the Upper Nile State Minister of Physical Infrastructure, Mr. Ding is the point man in the cabinet of Governor Simon Kun Puoch for road conditions in the area.
But relief is on the way for the longsuffering denizens of Malakal. According to the minister, five of the city’s 67 kilometres of dirt streets will be paved with funds donated by the national government in Khartoum.
A feasibility study by the China Sinohydro Corporation is underway and should be submitted to the minister during the course of September.
The actual paving is scheduled to start with the arrival of the dry season, which begins in the final weeks of the year. “We plan to change Malakal to be a better town,” said Mr. Ding. “I assure you that, after the rainy season, you will see (it) with your own eyes.”
The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has promised the minister another $600,000 for additional street pavement works in Malakal.
The state government also has plans to improve driving conditions outside the capital.
At present, the road from Malakal to the towns of Nasir and Jikou can only be used during the dry season. The same holds true for the road between Malakal and the northern Upper Nile State town of Renk as well as the artery connecting Maiwut and Longuchuk counties in the southeastern portion of the state.
The state government wants to transform the three roads into all-weather corridors that can be used throughout the year.
The China Sinohydro company has won a contract to upgrade the Malakal-Renk road. The cost will be covered by the Unity Support Fund, which was set up under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to promote economic development throughout the north-south border areas.
Funding for similar work on the road to Nasir and Jikou on the Ethiopian border is coming from the GoSS, which selected the Khartoum-based Eyat Company for the project.
No money has yet been found for improving the Maiwut-Longuchuk counties road, but work on the other two routes and the dirt streets of the capital is all set to go forward.
“We cannot tell you the exact date when we are going to start,” said Minister Ding. “(But) the contractors are ready now with their heavy equipment, and they are waiting for the rainy season to finish.”
Heavy machinery for road construction in Malakal
The copyright of this story solely belongs to UNMIS. If you are interested to republish it please contact unmis-insudan@un.org for permission.
Posted in Africa, Stories that I wrote at work on September 15, 2010| 2 Comments »
I wrote this story for “In Sudan” magazine September 2010 edition. To see the full magazine please click on the image below & my story is on page 16.
A year and a half after it was looted and closed down due to violent clashes between rival military forces, Upper Nile University is up and running again.
Damages to the university during the February 2009 conflict between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) came to about 25 million SDG ($10 million), according to its acting principal, Prof. Lino Libo Ador.
Public and environmental health student Jacob Ishag was a first year student at the time, living at the university residence. “I had to return to my hometown in West-Darfur for six months after the crisis. I was very sad to be unable to continue my education for one semester.”
The institution languished until April 2009, when Prof. Bol Deng was appointed its new vice-chancellor. One of his first tasks was to request the assistance of the Government of National Unity and Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) to reopen it.
“The national government contributed around one million SDG ($400,000) that was channelled through the Unity Fund,” said Prof. Ador. “The Government of Southern Sudan contributed around 500,000 SDG($200,000).” [The Unity Fund consists of monies allocated by the national government to develop Southern Sudan in making continued union with the north attractive.]
With the help of this financing, the university rebuilt itself up and opened again in September 2009. It currently hosts 3,744 students on three campuses in Malakal, Renk and Khartoum (in the north), said Prof. Ador.
“The programmes that we have so far are only undergraduate level, but maybe next year we will start the graduate degree programme,” he added.
The only public university in the state, Upper Nile is one of the oldest and most developed centres of higher learning in Sudan. Founded by the national government almost two decades ago, the university’s initial three faculties — education, natural resources and environmental science and medicine — have now grown to eight.
Public and environmental health and human development were added as new faculties, while natural resources and environmental science were broken down into agriculture, forestry, animal production and veterinary medicine. The university also has an outreach centre to distribute information on women and children.
Jacob Ishag (second from left), witness of February 2009 violence, Malakal.
Partnerships abroad
To boost its standards, the institution has entered into partnership with Norway’s Oslo University and Akershus University College.
In co-operation with Akershus, Upper Nile is developing a bachelor’s programme in vocational teacher education. It will also be offering a master’s programme in multicultural and international education with Oslo University College.
Upper Nile is also part of the Norwegian north-south Fredskorpset staff exchange programme.
“Oslo University has sent several lecturers to Malakal and our university has sent lecturers to Oslo University and Akershus University College,” said Prof. Ador. So far, two Sudanese lecturers have participated in the exchange programme, which began in 2006 and runs until 2011 with the possibility of extension.
“I was sent to Akershus University College from September 2008 to 2009 to learn about its curriculum so I can apply it accordingly to Upper Nile University,” said Sabet Akwa Kwan, an English lecturer in the Faculty of Education.
Despite challenges the university has faced, some graduates from Upper Nile have gone on to lead successful careers, the acting principal said.
“One of our graduates now is a member of Upper Nile State parliament, Thon Bany,” said Prof. Ador. “Some of them are even employed at the GoSS level or as principals of secondary schools all over South Sudan.”
Upper Nile University classroom, Malakal.
Still recovering
The February 2009 clash that closed down Upper Nile University was the second time it had fallen prey to violence.
In 2006, the institution suffered a similar fate after being rampaged during another confrontation between the Sudan Armed Forces and Sudan People’s Liberation Army, which left two staff members injured, according to Acting Principal Prof. Lino Libo Ador.
Despite the government refurbishments, the university is still looking for additional funds to cover the February 2009 losses, the acting principal said.
In 2009, UNMIS donate 29,000 SDG ($11,600) to refurbish the university library.
Plans are underway by UNMIS to donate computers and multimedia equipment and also to begin a capacity-building project in the university, said Prof. Ador.
Professor Lino Libo Ador,acting principal of Upper Nile University, Malakal.
The copyright of this story solely belongs to UNMIS. If you are interested to republish it please contact unmis-insudan@un.org for permission.
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