South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Chief of Defence Forces of the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF), General Paul Nang Majok, has ordered the dismantling of illegal checkpoints in the Bahr el Ghazal region.
The order came after illegal checkpoints and river blocks were re-erected in Greater Bahr el Ghazal.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF spokesperson, said that the Chief of Defence ordered all division commanders and the commander of the ground force to begin dismantling all unauthorized checkpoints along the major roads.
“They have been re-established, and fresh orders have been issued for these re-established checkpoints to be once again brought down,” Gen. Lul said during a press briefing on Monday.
Gen. Lul warned that those responsible for erecting them will be held accountable.
“So, all those routes that are experiencing a re-emergence of checkpoints will be subjected to a new order, and the commencement starts as of now,” he said.
“We have the forces that are in charge of those states, so it is a matter of them being ordered to do their work once again.”
He explained that the move followed public outcry, including from the U.N., regarding the illegal collection of fees and the imposition of unlawful penalties.
“And all of you, including the UN, have been complaining about checkpoints along the River Nile. We have reports indicating there are a total of 86,” he said.
He noted that the exercise would ease and enhance fast and effective road and river transportation.
“We have different actors in charge of these checkpoints. SPLA-IO, I think, has around 33 checkpoints. We also have ours.”
He mentioned that other checkpoints are managed by armed communities who collect money for their personal benefit.
“And whatever they collect goes into their pockets. Now, with all the commitments we have, the UN has been urging us to dismantle checkpoints around the River Nile. Civilians have been doing the same.”
He stated that the checkpoints hinder goods from reaching their intended destinations due to the charges imposed.
In December 2024, President Salva Kiir ordered all checkpoints to be demolished following complaints from traders that soldiers were collecting illegal and unlawful penalties.
The SSPDF responded by removing all illegal checkpoints along major highways, but they resurfaced after a few months.
