The return of the Boda-boda Association in South Sudan’s Capital Juba has raised concern from a member of parliament who called on the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) to stop the association from forcing youth who ride motorcycle taxis to join.
Majak Abraham Biar, an SPLM-IO lawmaker representing Bor County in Jonglei State, said he has noticed that members of the Boda-boda Association are forcefully extorting money from the youth who are already struggling.
He said he always uses a boda-boda whenever he goes for parliamentary sessions and they are always stopped on Tambura Road in Atlabara and the boda-boda rider is forced to register with the group.
“Madam Speaker, my point of information is on a body called Boda-boda Association,” he said. “When our hustling youth riding boda-bodas fall in crises, the association does not support them.”
According to Biar, whenever, the association takes money from the young riders, no receipts are issued.
The boda-boda Association has severally been accused of extorting money from bike riders and ignoring their concerns, especially whenever they got into trouble.
In 2021, boda-boda operators in Juba accused the association of colluding with police to arrest them and force them to obtain membership identity cards.
In 2022, angry boda-boda riders tired of being extorted, burned down the office of the Boda-boda Association after a rider was accidentally shot by the police.
The legislator called on the association to at least stand with the riders who have joined the body whenever they experience challenges or when their bikes are stolen.
Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba directed the TNLA’s transport committee to follow the issue and ensure it is addressed.