The drivers of transit goods vehicles entering South Sudan through the Nimule border point in Eastern Equatoria State have parked their vehicles at a yard in Nimule to protest the new fee levied by the traffic police.
Last week, Maj. Gen. Kon John, the Director General of the South Sudan Traffic Police, issued an order directing all traffic police inspectors along borders to collect SSP 20,000 from all goods vehicles crossing borders. This however prompted goods drivers to suspend entry and exit through the Nimule border post and park at a yard in the town.
A trader who only identified himself as Yam told Radio Tamazuj that the new SSP 20,000 per truck and the National Revenue Authority’s increase of the dollar rate from SSP 90 to 300 for customs payments is abnormal and may force traders to increase commodities prices.
“The tax increment imposed by the government on goods vehicles is not good because it will force us to increase the price of goods and the local people will suffer,” he said. “The municipal authorities will question us why we increased prices and this will make it difficult for us to operate and we want the government to reduce the tax rate rather than making an abnormal increase.”
For his part, Major Gatluak Riak, the Director of Customs at Nimule, confirmed that goods drivers protested the new rates and parked their vehicles.
“Vehicles stopped crossing the border after the government changed the dollar exchange rate for customs from SSP 90 to 300 per USD 1,” he explained. “Traders do not understand this increment and have complained that it is too high and they cannot pay it. As a result, trucks have not been moving for the last six days.”
Meanwhile, Major Juma George, the Director of Traffic in Nimule, confirmed that there is congestion of goods trucks at the Nimule parking yard.
“There was an increase of the customs rate which was issued at the national level and because business persons are not ready for this increment, truck drivers parked and refused to enter South Sudan and there is now congestion of goods trucks in all parking yards in Nimule,” he said. “It is a new system imposed on them (traders) and they are still making arrangements to clear their taxes to enter South Sudan.”