Major General Kon John Akot, Director of the national Traffic Police. (Photo: Courtesy).

The Director-General of National Traffic Police said 18 traffic officers were arrested during the festive season in connection with different violations against motorists in Juba.

Maj. Gen. Kon John Akot did not specify the particular offences but added that the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to address misconduct within the traffic police force.

In a previous incident in 2019, the department detained 85 officers and dismissed eight for harassing motorists.

Gen. Akot said the measures aim to enhance professionalism and accountability among traffic officers in Juba.

“As for the traffic police who violated their work in the streets, many of them were arrested and sentenced to prison, and some of them were dismissed from the police,” he said in an exclusive interview with Eye Radio.

“So far, we have arrested 18 personnel in police custody with different ranks, and we are going to present them shortly.”

Drivers and riders have frequently reported harassment and extortion by traffic officers, including unlawful fines and intimidation over vehicle documentation.

“Not every person is good in every country, but there is a good person and a bad person in the communities. We have bad people, and we are working against these bad people through police policy.”

“If there is anyone who works against the citizen, we do not accept that, and we will take measures against him/her, because our work is in the interest of the country and the citizens, and not for our personal interests.”

During a joint security parade on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Forces General Paul Nang Majok, cautioned traffic police against setting up unnecessary roadblocks in Juba.

This was after incidents of harassment on diplomatic premises and vehicles were reported during the annual end-of-year security search in Juba last month.

The alleged incidents prompted the foreign ministry to apologize to the diplomatic community.