By Philip Buda Ladu
South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has issued an order to immediately remove all illegal checkpoints along the River Nile, according to a press release from the Office of the Spokesperson, dated April 25, 2025.
The order, issued by Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Paul Nang Majok, directs Lt. Gen. Theyip Gathuak TaiTa, Commander for Ground Forces, and Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo, Assistant Chief of Defense Forces for Mobilization and Disarmament, to carry out the operation.
According to the order the removal of checkpoints will begin in Juba, Central Equatoria State, and extend northwards to Malakal, Upper Nile State.
The SSPDF outlined the objectives of this operation such as; increasing trade volume and widening the scope of commercial activities, permanently eliminating unauthorized taxes and levies.
Furthermore, the exercise aims to ease and enhance faster and more effective river transportation as the numerous checkpoints along the White Nile slow down movement of boats due to be subjected to countable stoppages and payment of unauthorized levies.
Lt. Gen. Marshal Stephen Bebenen, the Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI), has been tasked with supervising the execution of the order, which is to take effect immediately.