Japan is to build 17 bridges in Juba, S. Sudan

Japan has pledged to undertake a major engineering project in Juba.

From Sudan Radio Service Wednesday, 20 May 2009 (Khartoum):

In an interview with Sudan Radio Service in Khartoum on Tuesday, the Sudanese ambassador to Japan, His Excellency Stephen Wundu said the Japanese government has renewed its commitment to supporting development in Sudan.

[Stephen Wundu]: “Japan is to build seventeen bridges in Juba. The money has been approved and the contract has been signed and given out for building seventeen bridges in Juba.”

Ambassador Wundu said that Japan has shown itself to be deeply committed to supporting different aspects of Sudanese society.

[Stephen Wundu]: “The Japanese are not well-known for making false promises, they have made a commitment to support the DDR, they made a commitment to support the census and they made a commitment to support the democratization process and the elections. They have made a promise to support the referendum process. This information has been communicated to the Government of Sudan through the embassy and it has been passed on to the Government of southern Sudan.”

Ambassador Wundu also said the government and the people of Japan are also interested in other peace processes in the Sudan, such as the Doha initiative which is seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict in Darfur.