My Business Trip to South Sudan

I organized a three-day business trip to Juba, South Sudan.  Upon landing on the ground, I felt energy of this country together with a hot breeze.  The capital of the world’s newest country is now vibrant, filled with the noise of construction coming from every corner of the street.  Newly paved roads have lightened the burden of local farmers whose agricultural products used to get ruined before reaching the market.  Additional housings have put roofs over the heads of the South Sudanese who migrated from Khartoum to Juba after last year’s independence.  The city is full of energy and hope.

Japan has been playing an important role in constructing infrastructure in Juba.  The Japanese Government sent staff officers to the headquarters of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) in November 2011 as the first step of Japan’s cooperation with UNMISS.  With UN’s strong request, the engineering unit of Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) was first dispatched in January 2012, later followed by the second dispatch in June.  Currently 326 engineering unit members, including two women, are engaged in construction projects in Juba.  I was glad to see many Japanese flags on bridges and road signs throughout the city of Juba.

Japan’s engineering units have a high reputation internationally.  They have so far joined PKO missions in Cambodia, Mozambique, the Golan Heights, East Timor, Haiti, and South Sudan.  With their fine-tuned and diligent work, the units have always been well accepted by local people.  Moreover, members are well disciplined and highly motivated.  “All the unit members volunteered to come to Juba.  In fact, the number of volunteers always excels slots that are available.  Therefore, we select people whose skills, specialties, and ranks match most,” said one of the senior staff of JGSDF.

The third engineering unit, with the same number of boots, will take over the current one from January next year.  “After I go back to Japan in December, I will apply for the post in Juba again,” said a coordinating officer.  “Working here is very rewarding.  I can see that I am making change.”