‘Juba is dirty; waste is everywhere. We must act,’ says city council

JUBA – The new leadership of Juba City Council, headed by Mayor Christopher Sarafino Wani, has vowed to take bold and decisive measures to address the city’s growing waste crisis and deteriorating infrastructure.

The pledge was made during the inaugural meeting of the newly appointed city administration on Friday. The team was recently constituted by Central Equatoria State Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, who tasked them with ensuring order and cleanliness in the capital.

During the Executive Council session chaired by Mayor Sarafino, the administration reviewed the major challenges confronting the city and discussed a roadmap for urban transformation.

Stephen Lomude, the Deputy Mayor for Environment and Waste Management, expressed deep concern about the state of sanitation in Juba, declaring, “Juba is dirty; waste is everywhere. We must act decisively to change this image.”

Lomude’s remarks echoed Governor Mujung’s recent directive calling on the new city leadership to make Juba the “second Kigali”—a reference to Rwanda’s capital, widely admired for its cleanliness, safety, and organized urban planning.

In a statement seen by Sudans Post, Mayor Wani outlined his administration’s immediate priorities: cleaning up the city, rehabilitating Juba’s dilapidated roads, and improving service delivery.

He emphasized that sustainable progress would require “strategic partnerships” with the Central Equatoria State government, development agencies, and local stakeholders.

Jenifer Yabu Lasuba, the Deputy Mayor for Administration and Finance, acknowledged the numerous hurdles facing the Council, including limited resources and logistical challenges. She called for teamwork and accountability across all departments to ensure meaningful results.

Lual Joseph Deng, the Deputy Mayor for Social Services, expressed optimism about the new team’s potential and urged cooperation among all council members to deliver visible change to residents.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer Alex Mati urged staff to demonstrate commitment and professionalism in executing the Council’s 100-day action plan, which aims to set the tone for a cleaner and more functional capital.

Mayor Sarafino, the sixth to hold the position since South Sudan’s independence in 2011, inherits an institution long plagued by political interference, frequent leadership reshuffles, and underfunding.

Previous cleanup campaigns and road improvement projects launched by former mayors stalled due to financial and administrative constraints. Whether the new administration can deliver on its ambitious agenda will become clear in the coming three months.