In June 2025, the World Bank published its South Sudan Transport Infrastructure and Logistics Diagnostics report, which provides a sobering overview of the country’s transportation sector. The report confirms that the transport system in South Sudan is in a severely degraded state, with roads, rail, river and air links either underdeveloped or barely operational.
South Sudan, which is landlocked, shares borders with Ethiopia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Kenya. The road network is described as poor, while the railway system is non-functional. The report highlights that the only railway line in the country is a 248-kilometre narrow-gauge single track from Wau to Aweil, terminating at the Sudanese border. A 2013 report by the African Development Bank also noted the existence of a 446-kilometre branch line from Babanusa in Sudan to Wau, also not operational.
River navigation, another potentially vital mode of transport, is also hampered. The report notes that due to prolonged conflict, there is not only an urgent need to rebuild the country’s basic transport infrastructure but also to ensure that any redevelopment supports the delivery of life-saving aid and allows for emergency evacuations. Reliable transport is essential for sustaining humanitarian efforts.
South Sudan is also strategically located within a broader regional trade corridor. The World Bank stresses that fixing the transport issues in South Sudan would unlock major benefits for the region as a whole. In particular, resolving the relatively short connectivity gap between Juba and Addis Ababa could help open up a key corridor for trade and movement across East Africa. Get the South Sudan Transport Infrastructure and Logistics Diagnostics, from the World Bank here:
In June 2025, at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Russian Federation expressed interest in helping South Sudan develop its transport sector. Discussions reportedly included the rehabilitation of rail, air and river infrastructure, with agreements expected to follow in the coming months.
In a related development, Kenya hosted the 37th Meeting of the Northern Corridor Council of Ministers in July 2025, bringing together all member states, including South Sudan. Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Davis Chirchir, used the forum to highlight major developments along the corridor. These include port expansions at Lamu, Mombasa and Kisumu, improvements to the Standard Gauge Railway, and upgrades to regional roads. He stressed the importance of the corridor as a trade lifeline for landlocked countries in the region.
The Council reviewed progress reports, discussed the 2025/2026 budget and work plan, and outlined new priorities to improve corridor efficiency and eliminate trade barriers. The meeting also marked a change in leadership, with Uganda’s Benon M. Kajuna handing over the chairmanship to Burundi’s Minister for Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism, Marie Chantal Nijimbere. The Democratic Republic of Congo was appointed vice-chair. South Sudan’s Dr Lam Akol Ajawin was among the key officials in attendance.
The meeting also underlined the urgent need to fast-track the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway. Delays in the project are creating logistical bottlenecks and driving up the cost of transport, a problem that directly affects South Sudan’s economic prospects.
South Sudan is also a participant in the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor, a major regional infrastructure initiative. Kenya’s 2025/2026 budget confirms that a dedicated budget line has been retained for the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority. This is intended to protect the integrity of the project’s original vision and ensure effective coordination, planning and management.
There is a growing recognition that improving South Sudan’s transport systems is not only critical for the country’s recovery and growth, but is also a vital step in unlocking the full potential of regional integration and trade.
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