Authorities in Jonglei State have issued orders to stop cars and boats from leaving the state headquarters due insecurity.
Fighting between the Mundari and Bari tribes that on May 7th and has caused the transportation shutdown, Deng Abel Maker, chairman of the drivers’ union told Radio Tamazuj.
“The reason for us to close the transportation is the fighting between the tribes of Mundari and Bari which has affected us and so the high authorities of the State told us to stop, so that the fighting of these people will be solved first…..we are waiting from the State government, if they say go today, go after one week or after one month, we will go,” Abel said.
Kuoi Jongkuch, a stuck traveller, said people are suffering because of the transport shutdown. He said that people who visited Bor for a short period are trapped, and cannot leave.
“People are suffering here and we want the road to be opened so that one can follow his work in Juba, there are no vehicles or boats at the port, we are suffering and we want the government to see what is going to help, these cars standing here are going to Jalle and Panyangoor but there are either two or three, Juba road is the one which takes many vehicles,” Jongkuch said.
Driver Ajak Mayom said they have parked their cars due to lack of work since the road has been shut down. The fighting between the tribes may have political ramifications, he said.
Boats attacked on the Nile
Separately, at least one person was killed and five others were injured in a boat going to Lake State from Juba on Monday morning. The boat, which was carrying goods to Guolyar, was shot at in the engine and was captured, according to a local report.
When reached on phone in Juba, Maluak Nek the owner of the captured boa, said the driver has sustained five bullets in his leg, and is still in the hands of the Mundari administration.
It is not known whether the injured have received medication.
“This driver was stopped and advised not to go from Juba port and even in Gondokoro but he was not able to understand people, he is now injured severely with five bullets in his upper leg, they are still in the hands of the Mundari chiefs,” said Maluak.
Nek said he does not know if his boat is available or has been left to move with the flowing water because the driver has been taken out. No other boats have set off again, either in Juba or Bor.