Gov’t bans 17 illegal checkpoints in Yei River County

JUBA – Local authorities in Yei River County of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State have banned at least seventeen illegal checkpoints in along the Juba-Kaya highway to curtail price hike, according to county commissioner Aggrey Cyrus Kenyi.

“In the security meeting that took place last Friday, I issued an order to prevent and stop the illegal collection of money by some soldiers from vehicles carrying goods and passengers at 17 checkpoints under the control of my county which include: Amadi, Jabal Kujur, Lambi, Lanya, Kenny, Bongo,” Aggrey said.

“All the money that the soldiers collect from the drivers of cargo and public vehicles is illegal and prohibited by state government laws. The collection of money is only allowed for government tax officials who are under the non-petroleum revenue-collecting authority,” he added.

The top local official said traders working between Juba and Yei to deliver basic goods have complained that members of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) have always asked them top pay at least SSP45,000, prompting his decision and blamed drivers for being ignorant on their rights.

“I am telling citizens and traders that any party wants you to pay them money without giving you a receipt 15 are illegal entities,” Aggrey said.

“This money is added by these traders to the prices of tickets and merchandise, and this puts great pressure on the citizens, and this is what the government rejects,” he added.