The Government of South Sudan has committed its self to offering protection for truck drivers from East African Community (EAC) Countries entering in the country.
This follows complaints from the drivers who allege that they are often harassed by elements within the South Sudan military.
South Sudan’s commitment to offer security for the truck drivers came during an impromptu meeting between a Ugandan government delegation and South Sudanese officials on Thursday following a strike by drivers from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda over alleged harassments by the South Sudanese security services.
Over 100 truck drivers under their umbrella Body– The East African Drivers Association (EADA) — on Tuesday pitched camp at Elegu Border Post in Attiak Sub-county, Amuru District refusing to cross into South Sudan.
The drivers allege that on a number of occasions, South Sudanese military personnel and traffic police officers stop them along the ways to Juba, harassing and extorting money from them.
In a letter dated 29 March this year, addressed to South Sudan’s Interior Minister, the drivers allege that foreign truck drivers have been constantly attacked between Nimule-Juba highway by Armed SPLA soldiers and Traffic Police.
Mr Jamil Katumba, a Ugandan Truck Driver with Global Trottas Ltd, told Acholi Times in an interview on last week that their security along the highway is at stake since any army or police officer stops them and ask for whatever they want.
“From Nimule border point we don’t have problems, but once you are along Pageri town in Magwi County, Mori Adru, Moli and Malakia towns, series of traffic officers and SPLA soldiers along the highway stop you and ask for any amount of money. If you fail, they threaten to
shoot you,” Mr Katumba said.
Katumba said has ever paid USD 500 to a South Suda security personnel just to make his way to Juba adding demanding for money from truck drivers is a common practice in South Sudan.
“We want our government to help us mediate with their counterparts in South Sudan so that the security of foreign truck drivers is protected,” said Mr Katumba.
Gen Dominic Ding Agar, the Deputy Director General South Sudan’s Custom Services who chaired a meeting held at Royal Palace Hotel Ltd in Nimule Town between the disgruntled drivers and Ugandan delegation resolved to guarantee the safety of the truck drivers.
Gen Agar said that Sudan Sudan being a young nation relies heavily on the import goods from its sister East African Countries adding that they will improve on security along the Nimule Juba Highway.
He also observed that because of its history of conflicts, South Sudan has many rebel splinter groups and bandits who sometimes attack the drivers so that the government forces are blamed.
The Ugandan delegations were led by Gordon Mwesigye, the Uganda Revenue
Authority Northern regional Manager and Aswa Regional Police commander
Wilson Kwanya.
According to Mr Mwesigye who represented Uganda’s Custom Director, Truck drivers ply the South Sudan route have consistently been accusing armed personnel in police and military uniforms of harrassement.
The four hours meeting ended with five key resolutions amongst, South Sudanese officials agreed to ensure their armed officers wear name tags, issue Toll free security numbers to truck drivers, increase military patrol on Juba-Nimule road and investigate corrupt traffic officers.
The Drivers later ended their four days strikes and were then flagged off by Gen Agar into South Sudan.
