Traffic along the vital Juba-Bor Highway has ground to a halt following a deadly clash between an unknown armed group and cattle traders from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) on Wednesday morning.
The violent incident, which occurred in Mogiri Payam of Juba County, resulted in at least 22 fatalities and the looting of hundreds of head of cattle.
The Office of the Governor of Central Equatoria State confirmed the deadly clash, stating that both sides suffered heavy casualties.
In response to the escalating security threat along the highway, Deng Jool Deng, the president of the Drivers Union in Jonglei State, said his office and state authorities have announced an emergency 72-hour suspension of all transport along the route, effective Wednesday.
“The situation remains the same as of yesterday (Wednesday), and no vehicles are moving along the highway between Juba and Bor because it is still not safe,” he said. “We, along with the Government of Jonglei State, have decided to halt all transport for the next 72 hours. We do not know when security will stabilize and we urge the governments of Jonglei and Central Equatoria to provide security escort for commercial vehicles.”
Jool urged the national government to strengthen security by sending additional military forces to safeguard the trade route which is essential for commerce.
The Juba-Bor Highway serves as a critical trade route linking the South Sudanese capital to the large expanse of land east of the River Nile, and the suspension has caused significant disruption to both the movement of goods and the daily lives of communities along the route.
In response to the worsening security situation, Jonglei State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. John Baak confirmed that joint police forces from both Jonglei and Central Equatoria states are being deployed to escort travelers along the highway.
“We are coordinating with police in Juba to escort vehicles from the capital, while our forces from Bor will take over at the Malith-Thoor meeting point,” Gen. Baak said. “This security measure will remain in place until the situation stabilizes.”
As of now, the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) and the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) have not issued official statements on the incident or the planned reinforcements.