JUBA — South Sudan’s Chief of Defense Forces, General Paul Nang Majok, on Friday ordered the removal of all illegal checkpoints along the River Nile.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesman, said the removal of illegal checkpoints will ease and enhance fast and effective river transportation.
“SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Pual Nang Majok, hereby orders Lt. Gen. Theyip Gatuak TaiTai, commander of Ground Forces for Mobilization and Disarmament, to immediately commence removal of all illegal checkpoints along or on the River Nile,” read part of the order issued on Friday.
Gen. Ruai said exercise will start from Juba County of Central Equatoria State all the way to Malakal in Upper Nile.
“The operation is aimed at achieving the following objectives: increasing trade volume and widening the scope of commercial activities, permanently eliminating unnecessary and unauthorized taxes or levies, and easing and enhancing fast and effective river transportation.”
Gen. Ruai said the army chief also ordered Lt. Gen. Marshal Stephen Babanen, chief of military intelligence, to work diligently and effectively supervise execution of the orders.
More than 30 illegal checkpoints along the Nile River between Juba and Malakal in Upper Nile State are still functional.
While progress has been made in dismantling illegal roadblocks on land routes, river transport has continued to be hampered by illicit checkpoints, forcing traders to pay exorbitant fees.
