Transport fares for commercial vehicles operating between Jonglei State and Juba have been hiked since Monday, a local official said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the information secretary for Jonglei drivers’ union, Deng Garang said transport fares per passenger have been increased from 4, 000 SSP to 4,500 SSP.
“There have been attacks along the road and so we increased fares per passenger from Bor to Juba. This amount will support members of the security forces who will be protecting road users,” Garang said.
He further said travels along the road resumed last week even after the killing of two people by unknown gunmen.
Mary Apajok, a resident of Bor town, has welcomed the drivers’ decision. “We are tired of attacks along the road. I am happy because they have increased the fares so that they can protect us,” Apajok said.
“4,500 SSP is nothing compared to our lives,” she added.
The Juba-Bor road has, for years, been a scene of deadly ambushes.