Civil society coalition demands transparency in gold-for-road project

2026-03-04 - 08:07

The Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources is calling for greater transparency and strict adherence to legal and environmental procedures in the government’s proposed gold-for-road project. In a statement issued in Juba on March 3rd, the coalition said it welcomes efforts to improve road infrastructure, but warned against using crude natural resources as collateral without clear safeguards. The group was reacting to the Council of Ministers’ approval of a two-billion US dollar road construction project, reportedly backed by national gold reserves and awarded to Shamrock Global Group for the construction of more than one thousand kilometres of road. “We welcome the initiative to improve road infrastructure in South Sudan,” the statement reads, “but we express deep concern about the use of crude natural resources as collateral.” The coalition questioned the availability of credible data on the country’s gold reserves, saying, “Where is the gold that we are using as collateral for roads?” It also raised concerns about the procurement process, stating that the information provided to the public “has failed to substantially convince” citizens about the criteria used to award the sovereign guarantee. On the reported cost of 2.3 million dollars per kilometre, the coalition said the figure is “scanty in justification” and higher than the regional average, calling for an explanation of how the rate was negotiated. The group further warned of possible debt risks, asking: “What is the agreed contingency payment strategy?” should the country fail to meet its obligations through gold reserves. The coalition is demanding that the government publish data on gold reserves, disclose the contractor selection process, clarify the unit cost, and ensure environmental impact assessments and community consultations are conducted before large-scale mining begins. “CSCNR supports infrastructural development,” the statement concludes, “but it should be financed through revenues transparently generated from natural resources like gold sales, and not crude gold.” The coalition urged the government to ensure the project is implemented transparently and accountably to protect national interests.