South Sudan opposition leader calls for removal of illegal checkpoints

The leader of the opposition Republican People’s Party, Wol Madut has urged the transitional government of national unity to deal away with all military manned checkpoints on major roads.

 “The concern is that there are people looting traders along the road, traders are forced to pay one million SSP to criminals, someone with a gun forces you to pay him and he claims he is the government. Let the Government Issue an order to close all illegal checkpoints,” Madut told The Juba Echo in an interview in Juba on Sunday.

Madut said that travelers are being forced to pay loose change along the road from Juba to Bentiu.

“There are many illegal road blocks; Rumbek is the only secure place. In Tonj you pay almost 300,000 SSP for a loaded truck, the money is going to unknown people which means the government has failed to take control,” he said.

Madut also noted that the same is happening along the unpaved Wau – Bentiu road.

 He urged the government to tarmac Gogrial-Bentiu road to ease access.

 “The government has failed to do 30 miles road between Gogrial in Warrap and Bentiu in Unity State and Bentiu where the oil is coming from is the backbone of the country, let money go to authorized people,” he said.