Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga has landed in Juba, South Sudan for the official commissioning of the significant Freedom Bridge on Thursday.

Raila, who is also the African Union (AU) High Representative for Infrastructure, is expected to witness the official opening of the 3.6km bridge set to connect Juba to the rest of the region.

“Touchdown: Arrival in Juba, South Sudan ahead of tomorrow’s commissioning of the 3.6kms freedom bridge that will connect Juba to the rest of the region,” posted Raila on Twitter on Wednesday evening.


He added, “Africa is busy expanding its infrastructure,”.

The South Sudan minister of Road and Bridge in April announced that the bridge had been completed and was expected to be officially opened by President Salva Kiir in early May.


President Kiir and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) inaugurated the 3.6km-long bridge in March 2015 that was constructed at a cost of $91 million.


However, when conflict erupted again in 2016, Japanese aid workers were forced to evacuate from South Sudan and suspended construction works on the Freedom Bridge.