Drivers’ union suspend road movements over insecurity

August 17, 2016 (TORIT) – The union of drivers in South Sudan’ Eastern Equatoria state have cautioned vehicle drivers from plying Torit -Kapoeta road due to increasing insecurity.

The union chairman, Kamal Al Nine said the decision followed frequent attacks by unknown gunmen on innocent passengers using road, which links the two state capitals.

According to Kamal, two people have been killed and seven injured on the last one week on the same road.

There is no security on the road, you can’t risk taking passengers who could be hurt or killed on the road since there will be no help by authorities, said the union leader.

“No vehicle will move from here. We also called Torit and informed authorities that no vehicle should leave since the road is not secure. Anybody who wants to travel, let him do it on his or her risk because there is no security,” he stressed.

The government in Namorunyang, one of South Sudan’s controversially created states, equally admitted facing challenges facing the passenger s and the business communities using the main road linking the two states.

Meanwhile, the state minister for local government, Joseph Lokai has advised all passengers and drivers to reduce their movements until the road was deemed secure.

He further urged the business communities to opt for alternative routes linking Chukudum, Kenya and Ethiopia instead of relying on the road that connects Torit to Kapoeta.

(ST)