Infrastructure & Energy

Roads, bridges, power, water, and digital connectivity shape how people move, trade, learn, and live. This section provides an accessible overview of South Sudan’s infrastructure landscape.

Transport Electricity Water access Connectivity

Road access

One of the lowest in the region; many areas accessible only by river or air.

Transport

Electricity

National access remains under 10%, with most urban centres relying on generators.

Energy

Connectivity

Mobile & internet expanding but uneven; huge opportunities for digital inclusion.

Digital

Transport & road networks

Transport infrastructure is central to markets, humanitarian access, and economic development.

Key points

  • Most roads are unpaved and seasonally impassable.
  • Flooding disrupts mobility for months at a time.
  • Main corridors link Juba to Nimule, Bor, Wau, and Yei.
  • River transport on the Nile remains important for bulk cargo.

Why it matters

Every improvement in road networks reduces transport costs, improves food security, and strengthens trade flows within and across borders.

Energy & electricity access

Access to reliable, affordable power remains one of the country’s biggest constraints.

Urban generators

Most towns rely on diesel generators for power, driving up business and household costs.

Cost burden

Hydropower prospects

The Nile basin provides opportunities for future hydropower projects, though they require scale and stability.

Long-term

Solar growth

Solar home systems and minigrids are rapidly expanding in communities and institutions.

Promising

Digital connectivity

Mobile money, online education, e-commerce, and digital jobs all depend on connectivity.

Mobile expansion

Coverage is increasing across towns and cross-border hubs.

Local ISPs

Domestic ISPs and diaspora-driven telecom ventures offer new models for connectivity.

Digital access

Schools, health facilities, and businesses rely on digital access, creating strong demand for infrastructure and services (ss.Tel can be showcased here).

Challenges

  • High cost of fuel and imported equipment
  • Seasonal flooding damaging roads
  • Limited government budget
  • Fragmented local markets

Future updates will include maps, project highlights, and data graphs.