South Sudan army denies abduction of Ugandan truck drivers

Juba, South Sudan | URN | The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has denied allegations that its soldiers abducted Ugandan truck drivers and seized their trucks in Bor Town, Jonglei State.

Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson and Director for Defence Media and Press, rejected claims that the incident involved South Sudanese soldiers.

In an exclusive interview with URN on Thursday, Maj. Gen. Koang said the alleged abduction of drivers and seizure of trucks were carried out by armed civilians in Jonglei State, rather than the national army.

“The allegations or the acts were not committed by South Sudanese soldiers or the SSPDF. It was allegedly committed by armed civilians. Because they are armed civilians from the state, it is the state’s responsibility to give you clarification on what had happened,” Maj. Gen. Koang said.

Asked why foreign truck drivers and their vehicles were allegedly abducted and seized in the presence of state security personnel, Maj. Gen. Koang declined to comment, saying security matters in Jonglei State were primarily the responsibility of state authorities.

“If Ugandan drivers are being attacked, being threatened by armed youth and being intimidated at local ports where dry fish is being sold, it is the jurisdiction of the state apparatus to protect them and give clarification on why the security of Ugandans is being compromised,” Koang said.

The denial comes amid reports that armed men suspected of being South Sudan government soldiers abducted Ugandan drivers and seized trucks between Tuesday and Wednesday in Mina and at Leudier fish ports in Bor Town.

South Sudanese media outlet Eye Radio, quoting an anonymous source in Bor Town, reported that hundreds of youths from Northern Jonglei returned through Bor Town after a botched cattle raid in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area on Wednesday.

According to the report, the influx of youth reportedly put pressure on state authorities to commandeer foreign-owned commercial trucks to transport the youth back to their respective villages.

Some of the seized trucks were reportedly loaded with salted fish destined for Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Isaac Katabazi, the Board Chairperson of the Alliance for Heavy Trucks Federation, said Wednesday that the armed men were suspected to be government soldiers who used some of the seized trucks to transport armed youth involved in attacks against armed militias.

Katabazi said six Ugandan drivers had been abducted and forced to drive their trucks to unknown destinations, while two others sustained severe injuries after allegedly being beaten for refusing to surrender their vehicles.

Speaking to URN on Thursday, Katabazi said the security situation in Bor Town remained tense, with many truck drivers, including Ugandans, forced to remain in hiding.

His account was corroborated by a Ugandan truck driver in Bor Town who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The driver said he had been assaulted by armed men whom he believed were government soldiers.

He also reported seeing a SINO truck among several other vehicles seized by the armed men before they were refueled at a petrol station and driven away.

The driver said he was also forced at gunpoint to drive a truck but managed to escape.

“I personally escaped when they grabbed me and forced me to drive Mzee Lwanga’s vehicle, but I told them I didn’t have the keys. They asked me to use my key, which wasn’t possible. They tried to force me at gunpoint because they failed to understand my explanation.”

He added: “The problem is that these people are too many. I am told they are very many.”

The driver advised Ugandan truckers against travelling to Bor Town until the security situation improves.

Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner, however, urged Ugandan traders to prioritize safety while conducting their trades in South Sudan.

Oceng noted that security personnel in the country are coordinating with their counterparts in South Sudan over the alleged abduction of Ugandan nationals and seizure of the trucks.