By Yiep Joseph
Despite repeated directives from the government, numerous illegal roadblocks continue to plague the road between Tonj and Wau. The 45-kilometre stretch is an ordeal for travelers.
Travelling from Tonj town, in Tonj South County of Warrap State, to Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal State has become increasingly challenging due to these checkpoints.
Drivers are forced to navigate six checkpoints manned by armed personnel who demand varying amounts of money.
At each illegal checkpoint, drivers are often forced to stop to either pay a fee or plead with the officers present for permission to pass.
As a result, drivers find themselves left with little choice but to comply with the demands of the personnel at these checkpoints in order to complete their journey.
In an exclusive interview with this outlet, the Warrap State Minister of Information stated that the state government is responsible for one checkpoint when traveling to Wau, while all others are illegal.
“I think there are exaggerations between Tonj South and Wau; Warrap State has only one roadblock (checkpoint) officially known,” Wol said.
“There is confusion before you reach Tonj South; there are a number of roadblocks being created illegally by the forces that are not even answerable to the governor of Warrap State,” he added.
Wol claimed that some members of the army created such checkpoints and continue to operate independently.
“These forces are police and operation forces, and they are working independently; they have many checkpoints, and they are not answerable to the government of Warrap State, and they are always counted on Warrap, which is not true,” he said.
He said the state government is working hard to ensure that all the roadblocks are cleared to ensure smooth movement of people and their goods.
Wol added that the state government has requested the national government to crack down on such roadblocks.
Efforts to reach the Spokesperson of the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF), Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, for comment, were not successful, as several calls were not answered.
Jacob Makol, one of the drivers traveling from Tonj in Warrap State to Wau, expressed his disappointment, stating that the checkpoints were illegally established to rob drivers.
“Just a small distance from Tonj to Wau with six checkpoints; this is just meant to get money from drivers; they are illegal and have to be removed,” MaKuol said
He appealed to Warrap state government to take action immediately to rescue drivers who were forced to unnecessarily pay to individuals at the checkpoints.
“I called on Warrap State to remove these illegal checkpoints. We just pay to these security people at the roadside because we wanted to pass, but we know it is illegal,” he said.
He expressed that the several checkpoints erected within Warrap state and on the way to Wau in particular continue to affect trade and movement of people.
Makol added that it is due to such checkpoints on the roadsides that forced traders to hike prices when their goods reached their destination.
“Those drivers and traders continue to pay money at all the checkpoints, and when goods reach Wau, they become expenses because the traders add all the figures they gave at the roadblock,” he said.
In his part, Daniel Makuach, a taxi driver, noted that despite being the shortest route from Tonj Town to Wau Town, it is still hindered by checkpoints.
He called on the government to reduce the number of checkpoints in order to allow smooth movement of people and goods.
Makach called Warrap state government to coordinate with the government forces to ensure that official checkpoints are guided by law while illegal ones are removed.
“We do not know the official checkpoints since all the checkpoints on this road ask for money; we need officers from the official checkpoint to be trained while the illegal is removed,” he said.
“If the checkpoints are for Warrap state government, they have to use receipts for collecting revenue, not asking for money, and they put them in their pockets,” he added.