Inspector General of Police (IGP) General Said Chawul Lam. (Credit: Office of the President)

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has revoked the newly introduced traffic directives on fees and regulations, retaining only the ban on vehicles with tinted windows and other existing traffic violations.

Earlier this week, the Director of Traffic Police, Maj. Gen. Kon John Akot, issued directives banning the use of right-hand-drive vehicles, vehicles with tinted windows, and vehicles with sliding doors on the left side. He also ordered public transport vehicles with sliding doors to ensure the doors open on the right side.

In addition, the Traffic Police introduced new charges for driving tests and altered the renewal periods for vehicle registration logbooks and driver’s licenses. Members of the public and civil society groups strongly criticized these measures, saying they violated existing traffic laws.

The directives attracted scrutiny from national legislators, who argued that the measures contradicted parliamentary legislation and were introduced without legal authority. Lawmakers accused Maj. Gen. Kon of imposing rules intended to extort money from the public, describing the mandatory “driving test certificate” as unlawful.

They further accused the Traffic Police leadership of defying the law, noting that the inclusion of insurance details in traffic records effectively reintroduced annual renewal requirements that parliament had previously abolished.

On Wednesday, during its first general assembly meeting in Juba, the South Sudan Bar Association said it had taken note of the public outcry over the new traffic orders. The association announced it would pursue legal action, citing violations of constitutional and legal rights.

Bar Association President Arop Malueth announced the formation of a Public Interest Litigation and Human Rights Committee to mobilize lawyers to address the matter.

In a statement aired on state-run television on Thursday, Inspector General of Police Gen. Said Chawul Lom announced the cancellation of all the directives except the restriction on vehicles with tinted windows. He clarified that the ban remains in force, with exemptions for drivers and passengers who have certified medical eye conditions.

Regarding right-hand-drive vehicles and vehicles with left-side sliding doors, Gen. Chawul said they will continue to operate normally until parliament enacts a law restricting their importation or use.

He also dismissed claims of changes to license renewal periods, stating that driver’s licenses remain valid for five years, as provided for under the law.

The reversal followed sustained public pressure from citizens, members of parliament, civil society organizations, and the media over alleged extortion and unlawful practices by the Traffic Police leadership.