Gov’t Confirms 25-Year Roads-for-Gold Deal Amid Growing Criticism 

Juba — The Government of South Sudan has confirmed signing a 25-year agreement with international firm Shamrock to implement a $2 billion road construction project across the Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions. 

According to government spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny, the long-term infrastructure arrangement will see Shamrock finance, design, and construct major highways and feeder roads aimed at improving connectivity, facilitating trade, and linking remote communities to markets and essential services. 

Ateny described the agreement as a “roads-for-gold” deal, under which the company is expected to recover its investment through access to designated gold concessions over the duration of the contract. Ateny further said the structure allows the country to undertake large-scale infrastructure development without immediate strain on public finances. 

“This partnership offers a strategic solution to our infrastructure gap,” said Ateny during an announcement in Juba. “By leveraging our natural resources responsibly, we can build the roads necessary to transform our economy.” 

The project is expected to be implemented in phases, prioritizing key economic corridors connecting state capitals, agricultural zones, and border entry points. Further technical details, including specific routes and timelines, are yet to be publicly disclosed. 

South Sudan’s road network remains one of the least developed in the region, with many roads rendered impassable during the rainy season. Economists argue that improved infrastructure could significantly reduce transportation costs, lower commodity prices, and stimulate cross-border trade. 

However, the agreement has drawn criticism from opposition figures, civil society organizations, and some economic analysts who warn that long-term natural resource-backed deals with risk undermining transparency and accountability. 

Critics argue that committing gold resources for 25 years could disadvantage future generations and limit the country’s fiscal flexibility. They contend that such agreements often disproportionately benefit foreign contractors and politically connected individuals. 

“Twenty-five years is a long time to tie up national resources,” one civil society activist said. “Without full public disclosure of the terms, there is a risk that the deal could enrich a few at the expense of the broader population.” 

Some observers have also pointed to previous resource-backed infrastructure arrangements, including earlier “roads-for-oil” initiatives, alleging that weak oversight and corruption led to mismanagement and diversion of funds. 

Government representatives have rejected claims of impropriety, insisting that the Shamrock agreement complies with national laws and will be subject to parliamentary and institutional oversight. They have pledged greater transparency once contractual processes are finalized. 

As debate continues, the roads-for-gold deal is shaping up to be one of the most significant — and potentially contentious — infrastructure undertakings in South Sudan since independence, highlighting the delicate balance between urgent development needs and long-term resource governance. 

Critics have described the 25-year roads-for-gold agreement as a potential vehicle for exploitation of the country’s natural resources by corrupt officials, warning that the deal could leave future generations poorer. 

Opposition figures and civil society activists argue that committing gold reserves for a quarter of a century is excessive and risks disproportionately benefiting foreign contractors and politically connected elites. They say the long duration of the contract could limit the country’s economic flexibility and lock in terms that may not reflect future market conditions. 

“Twenty-five years is too long to mortgage our mineral wealth,” one activist said. “This arrangement risks enriching contracting companies and a small group of officials while ordinary citizens see little benefit.”