Joint security forces assemble at the Buluk police playground in Juba on December 19, 2024, as part of their deployment to ensure safety during the festive season. - Credit: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio

Some members of the public are urging the national government to pay the salaries of the organized forces and provide them with incentives during the festive season to ensure they are motivated to deliver adequate security for citizens.

This according to them, will reduce extortion and looting by the members of the organized forces in the capital Juba and other parts of the country.

They said the organized forces deserve to be catered to and their family members.

The public said the soldiers would deliver their services professionally with the support of finance.

Joseph Kuany, a resident of the Lobonok area said; “When you are taking someone and a vehicle for a mission, fuel should be there, give him everything he needs, but for us in South Sudan, you issue an order of deploying soldier or security forces, but there is no money to support their work.”

“Their money is being released but there are those up there eating the money, this is not good,” he stressed.

“The deployed forces will start giving a hard time to civilians driving their vehicles and motorbikes, asking them to give them something for cigar rate.

“I’m advising soldiers to work professionally and with good heart, all his or her needs should be provided.”

Al-Sani Dak, another resident of Juba also called on the government to pay the organized forces.

“Why can’t the government pay our salaries, we are tired of waiting. You cannot hold us hostage like that. We are suffering, this is not good, and organized forces should be paid. Until when are we going to wait?” he said.

One Emmanuel at Juba’s Gabat residential area said the soldiers have families and should be catered for.

“These people are really tired, a few days ago we heard that the President said they should be paid, but up to now, we have not seen any salary for organized forces,” Emmanuel stated.

“We are talking about Christmas, without their welfare this can lead to theft and looting because they are in need. They have their children and they need to take care of them also for the festive season,” he said.

“If they stop civilians they can easily loot them, some civilians can also disrespect them, that’s why there is no respect between soldiers and civilians.”

David Magok, a resident of Wau town in Western Bahr el-Ghazal state said if the soldiers are not well-taken care of, they can easily turn against the civil population and loot them.

He urges the government to provide the soldiers with their necessary needs.

“We want the soldiers to receive their incentives and food provided so that they cannot disturb the civil population. They need water and food. They can easily beat people if they are not taken care of by the government,” said Magok from Wau.

“We cannot leave their children without food and water and we expect them to do their jobs professionally.

“These are organized forces of the people of South Sudan, they cannot work for free. So, we urge those in charge to pay them their salaries and incentives timely so that they can work honestly.”