JUBA – The Kenyan Embassy in South Sudan has assured Kenyan transporters operating along the Juba-Nimule route that the South Sudanese government has vowed to beef up security along the volatile highway.
Speaking to the South Sudanese state broadcaster SSBC on Tuesday, Amb. Samuel Nandwa urged his compatriots to ‘feel at home’ and resume travels as the security situation is being sorted out.
“I want to tell all the Kenyans to feel at home and know that they are in secure hands as they travel between Nimule and Juba as the government is taking care of the security,” he told SSBC.
The Kenyan envoy cleared the air just hours after the Kenyan Transporters Association issued a travel advisory for the drivers plying the route not to deliver products to South Sudan after recent deadly attacks on motorists that left two people dead.
“We wish to advise all transporters not to risk the lives of their drivers by continuing to offer transport services to South Sudan as the country remains highly volatile. We, therefore, request all transporters to withdraw their services forthwith to South Sudan until such time security shall be guaranteed,” partly read the statement issued on Monday.
The Kenyan drivers requested the government of South Sudan to immediately take measures to protect the drivers and trucks that were already in South Sudan and also compensate for the lives and properties that were lost.
Police Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Justine Buolo told the media on Monday in Juba that the attacks are carried out by “bandits” and “terrorists” hell-bent on disturbing the peace in the country.
The police revealed that the government had already dispatched a team of security personnel to secure the vehicles and travelers along the Nimule route.
He also promised to provide security to travelers along the major lifeline route following another tragic attack that left two drivers dead.
He said ‘‘Engulfed with this persistent growing insecurity on Juba – Nimule Highway and other highways, the security organs are working hard to ensure that these intermittences of violent attacks aimed at cutting the people’s lifeline are addressed once and for all.”
‘‘Therefore, the people of South Sudan and the World at large should know that these ambushes are carried out by terrorists against the efforts of the government to avail permanent implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreements’’.
Earl this month, four travelers, including two nuns succumbed to a road attack that has become a norm over the past months with no one claiming the responsibility.
And in April, highway attacks forced the Ugandan truckers to down their tools as they demanded security along the road. This translated into skyrocketing prices of commodities in the market after shortage rocked Juba and other parts of the country.
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