JUBA THREATENS TO PULL OUT OF LAMU PORT PROJECT
By Jackson Okoth
There is growing unease within South Sudan diplomatic circles in Nairobi. This is over what a high ranking official here describes as Kenya’s slow pace in putting up a second port in Lamu.
“If the speed with which the Kenya Government is constructing Lamu port and doing the railway does not change dramatically, we will seriously consider going to Djibouti or Tanga, even though these alternative routes might be a little bit longer,” said Dr Costello Garang Ring, the Executive Chairman of the New Sudan Foundation (NSF).
The Government has already drawn up plans to construct a port in Lamu as part of the $23 billion Lamu- South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET). On the list of beneficiaries from the Lapsset project is landlocked but oil rich South Sudan, this corridor providing it with a vital route to the sea.
Credible intelligence reports indicate that Khartoum is shopping for oil rigs with the intention of draining deposits situated on the disputed Abyei region, a move that could affect oil deposits within the disputed region. Fear is also rife within diplomatic circles that this move on Abyei could lead to further conflict between Sudan and South Sudan.
The Lapsset project will involve construction of a port at Manda Bay, a standard gauge railway line to Juba, the capital of South Sudan with a branch to Ethiopia, a road network, oil pipeline (South Sudan), oil refinery at Bargoni, three airports and resort cities in Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana shores. “What is most critical for us is the port and railway as opposed to other components of Lapsset,” said Dr Costello Ring.
Fragile economy
While Kenya appears to be in no hurry, its South Sudan neighbor is locked in a bitter border dispute with the north and is desperate for an alternative route for its crude oil exports. Already, Juba has shut down its crude oil production over a border dispute with Khartoum. This move is now choking its fragile economy, still suffering disrepair after decades of war with the north.
The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) leadership began discussions with the Kenya Government on how to connect South Sudan to the existing port of Mombasa or Lamu. This was way back in 2004.
The late John Garang, then SPLA leader, sent Dr Costello Ring to intervene and stop Kenya from privatising its old and uneconomical railway line. However, Kenya went ahead to concession its rail company to South Africa’s Sheltam.
As a commissioner for international co-operation and development at SPLM, Dr Ring had the privilege to meet President Mwai Kibaki, President Yoweri Museveni, the late Ethiopian President Meles Zenawi. He also discussed the project with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Premier Uhuru Kenyatta, then leader of the opposition.
“I also had long meetings with the late John Michuki, when he was Minister of Transport and then Minister for Lands Amos Kimunya,” said Dr Ring.
Even though President Kibaki was excited and enthusiastic about the project, his subordinates and the Kenyan bureaucracy were deadly slow for South Sudan.
Ring reported this fact back to Dr Garang in their last meeting in March 2005 and his reaction was amazing. He said that he knew that the Kenyans would hardly move but that we shouldn’t annoy them. The system in Kenya he said, had a tortoise speed as he termed it, but that we were thankful to the Kenyans for all that they did to support our cause.
Disappointment & bitterness
Dr Costello Ring was then ordered to go and see President Museveni and Prime Minister Meles. Uganda was fast to react; unfortunately there is no seaport there. South Sudan was also thinking of going to Tanga. Prime Minister Meles was also a man of his word and wanted South Sudan to go to Djibouti.
“The Kenyans were nice and polite but were caught up in unending discussions, until the tragic death of Dr Garang. I have been following up the project since,” said Ring. He then sought German experts to do the pre-feasibility study and to fix the necessary track route, which was successfully done by ThyssenKrupp among others.
“President Kibaki is trying to speed up the Lamu project, but time is running out for now. It is not his fault, as Dr Garang correctly and I too found out. Kenya is not in a hurry on this issue as South Sudan is, I must say with some disappointment and bitterness. It is not just matter of finance or funds; the will to drive the project has also not been there,” said Dr Ring.
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