In Pictures
Building the world's newest capital
Photo-essay on the construction boom in Juba, South Sudan's capital, a year after it seceded from Sudan.
Camille Lepage Last Modified: 13 Sep 2012 10:36

"One day, I’ll build a house, a big storey house. This day will come, but at the moment, I’m still living in this thatch room with my seven children," explains Marie while preparing dinner in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Marie lives in front of a building still under construction in the capital of the world's newest country.

But as the landscape of this former war-torn village changes rapidly with tall buildings and concrete houses rising all over the capital, the construction boom has triggered optimism among many. Everything from ministries to offices are being built and Marie hopes she would also benefit from the frenetic development.

South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in July 2011, has become the fastest developing country in Africa. 

Investments are mostly from foreign-educated South Sudanese or from the Middle East. They are building homes for their families or hotels for future clients.

The influx of expatriates working for NGOs and an array of firms have spurred the construction craze further.

But the change remains painful. Workers at construction sites live in squalor as they cannot cope with rising living costs.

It has been difficult as well for about four-fifths of the local population living in tukuls (traditional African grass or mud huts). Their city is being transformed, but their lives havent changed as yet.
Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
Juba is the capital of South Sudan, the newest and among the poorest countries in the world. The city, with a population between 300,000 and 400,000 people, is located along the White Nile River.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
The city is being rapidly transformed with massive new construction projects.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
Everything from offices to hotels and homes are being built, changing Juba's skyline.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
Rent in Juba is very expensive. Construction workers often stay in the buildings they are working on to lower their living cost.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
The city's population has ballooned and Konyo Konyo Market - Juba's oldest - is also the most crowded.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
The first luxury hotel in Juba will include a mall, a tennis court, and a swimming pool.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
An Egyptian company is building the hotel, which will likely be completed within two years.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
But while new homes are being built, many are forced to live in wooden shacks.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
Nevertheless, there is renewed hope that the development will benefit all residents.


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
Many foreign-educated South Sudanese are investing to build homes for their families. 


Camille Lepage/Al Jazeera
All the activity has gone on to make South Sudan the fastest-growing country in Africa.
images:
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captions:
Juba is the capital of South Sudan, the newest and among the poorest countries in the world. The city, with a population between 300,000 and 400,000 people, is located along the White Nile River.;*;The city is being rapidly transformed with massive new construction projects.;*;Everything from offices to hotels and homes are being built, changing Juba\(***)s skyline.;*;Rent in Juba is very expensive. Construction workers often stay in the buildings they are working on to lower their living cost.;*;The city\(***)s population has ballooned and Konyo Konyo Market - Juba\(***)s oldest - is also the most crowded.;*;The first luxury hotel in Juba will include a mall, a tennis court, and a swimming pool.;*;An Egyptian company is building the hotel, which will likely be completed within two years.;*;But while new homes are being built, many are forced to live in wooden shacks.;*;Nevertheless, there is renewed hope that the development will benefit all residents.;*;Many foreign-educated South Sudanese are investing to build homes for their families. ;*;All the activity has gone on to make South Sudan the fastest-growing country in Africa. Daylife ID:
1347265385611
Photographer:
Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage;*;Camille Lepage
Image Source:
Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera
Gallery Source:
Daylife
Daylife Raw Data:
Jubahttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Jubaen-usAl Jazeerafeedback@daylife.com10Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:24:08 GMTMon, 10 Sep 2012 11:03:48 GMT http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=0ap4drKgvBaGF

Juba is the capital of South Sudan, the newest and among the poorest countries in the world. The city, with a population between 300,000 and 400,000 people, is located along the White Nile River.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=0ap4drKgvBaGFCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Juba is the capital of South Sudan, the newest and among the poorest countries in the world. The city, with a population between 300,000 and 400,000 people, is located along the White Nile River.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=03EObLtb1z2Gh

The city is being rapidly transformed with massive new construction projects.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=03EObLtb1z2GhCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

The city is being rapidly transformed with massive new construction projects.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=0eRI7z7gAC2to

Everything from offices to hotels and homes are being built, changing Juba's skyline.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=0eRI7z7gAC2toCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Everything from offices to hotels and homes are being built, changing Juba's skyline.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=09mz90l7HG9FF

Rent in Juba is very expensive. Construction workers often stay in the buildings they are working on to lower their living cost.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=09mz90l7HG9FFCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Rent in Juba is very expensive. Construction workers often stay in the buildings they are working on to lower their living cost.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=03o37n3a5x4Oa

The city's population has ballooned and Konyo Konyo Market - Juba's oldest - is also the most crowded.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=03o37n3a5x4OaCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

The city's population has ballooned and Konyo Konyo Market - Juba's oldest - is also the most crowded.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=09Uf7FN3vMedV

The first luxury hotel in Juba will include a mall, a tennis court, and a swimming pool.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=09Uf7FN3vMedVCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

The first luxury hotel in Juba will include a mall, a tennis court, and a swimming pool.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=0bjT6nw59E7Iv

An Egyptian company is building the hotel, which will likely be completed within two years.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=0bjT6nw59E7IvCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

An Egyptian company is building the hotel, which will likely be completed within two years.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=08q06lp1hZ2Qq

But while new homes are being built, many are forced to live in wooden shacks.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=08q06lp1hZ2QqCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

But while new homes are being built, many are forced to live in wooden shacks.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=07IkgnI8Urg8o

Nevertheless, there is renewed hope that the development will benefit all residents.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=07IkgnI8Urg8oCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Nevertheless, there is renewed hope that the development will benefit all residents.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=0enz46pdyicbU

Many foreign-educated South Sudanese are investing to build homes for their families. 

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=0enz46pdyicbUCamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Many foreign-educated South Sudanese are investing to build homes for their families. 

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=09GcfSw4fq7MA

All the activity has gone on to make South Sudan the fastest-growing country in Africa.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Juba?image_id=09GcfSw4fq7MACamille LepageAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

All the activity has gone on to make South Sudan the fastest-growing country in Africa.

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