The Government of Eastern Equatoria State has removed unauthorized checkpoints and roadblocks as per the resolutions of the 8th Governors’ Forum that concluded in Juba recently.
The second and third resolutions of the forum say the national government, in coordination with the administrations of states and administrative areas, remove all illegal checkpoints along national roads and waterways like the Nile, Sobat, and Naam.
It was further resolved that the national government ban illegal tax collection along roads, waterways, and other locations to boost commerce.
Speaking at the headquarters for SSPDF Division 7, Brigade 3, in the Sherikat area in Torit, while removing a checkpoint, the state local government minister and head of the responsible committee, Peter Lokeng Lotone, said the resolution to implement the order came following a security meeting last week chaired by Governor Louis Lobong to remove all illegal checkpoints.
“We had checkpoints manned by military people that were chosen by the security meeting to be removed because they were the ones collecting money,” he said. “In Greater Kapoeta, we decided Lowareng checkpoint, Camp 15 in Loriok, Kideopo, Hiyalla, Kor Mus, and Sherikat here should be removed and that is why we brought the Torit mayor because it is his territory.”
Minister Lokeng added: “The checkpoint that will continue to exist under the local government is Machi in Katiko, camp 15 headed by the chief administrator and not the military, Kor English, Opulari and Ibalanythat will be taken from town to Magwi junction, and Naknak will also function.”
He said the state government does not have any force deployed at the Nimule border.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Mariano Oholong, the commander of the SSPDF’s Brigade 3 of the 7th Division, welcomed the removal of illegal checkpoints and said his forces were not responsible for any checkpoint in his jurisdiction.
“These checkpoints only exist within the territory of Sherikat but we do not have people there. Even the checkpoint here in the barracks is not ours, we do not have any checkpoint manned by our soldiers in the state, maybe they are controlled by soldiers from the Division Headquarters,” he clarified. “This reorganization is good and will help check crime and stop the army from illegally collecting money.”
For his part, Torit Mayor Mustaffa Albino Zachariah also welcomed the removal of illegal checkpoints.
“As the local government, we implement the law and public financial management,” he said.