WFP completes first food delivery by boat in Upper Nile State in 2018. | Photo: UN.

The ceasefire monitoring body, CTSAM-VM has expressed worry over alleged increased illegal checkpoints hindering movement along the Nile River and in some highways of the country.

The chairperson, Major General Hailu Gonfa Eddosa said the motive behind the impediments is for armed groups to collect unlawful taxation from travelers and traders.

“CTSAMVM remains concerned about movement and access throughout the country. It appears there has been a proliferation of checkpoints on both the Nile and on some roads,” Gonfa said in the 38th CTSAM-VM board meeting in Juba.

He also said there were reports of increased criminality on some roads.

“There is evidence that access to the revenue from these checkpoints – particularly on the Nile – has been the cause of friction. There are also reports of increased criminality on some roads.”

The CTSAMVM board constitutes parties signatory to the peace process as well as the international community and no-political stakeholders.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently said it has documented 27 incidents related to humanitarian access constraints throughout the country in December 2023.

It said violence against humanitarian personnel and assets and bureaucratic access impediments were the most widespread, each with seven incidents reported, followed by five incidents of active hostilities and four incidents of operational interference.

In August 2023, South Sudan government said it had removed all illegal checkpoints across the country in an attempt to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to vulnerable communities.

Then Foreign Minister Deng Dau Deng said all impediments to the delivery of humanitarian aid, including illegal checkpoints, have been removed and assured aid workers all over the country would be protected as they delivered assistance to vulnerable communities across the country.