( CNN ) -- The new nation of South Sudan plans to relocate its capital from the bustling main city of Juba to a smaller town in the north . Moving the capital to the town of Ramciel will provide more room for expansion , the government said in a news release on its website . It did not offer a time frame for the expansion , but said the planning ministry is initiating the process required to implement the resolution . Phone calls to the information minister for details went unanswered early Monday . Ramciel is in Lakes state , about 140 miles north of the current capital . South Sudan gained its independence from the north in July , officially breaking Africa 's largest nation into two . Despite South Sudan lagging behind in most development indices and lacking basic infrastructure , Juba has attracted investors from all over the world since the split .
Moving the capital to Ramciel will provide more room for expansion , the government says . The current capital of Juba is the new nation 's main city .