Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reforms, addressing the security officers in Nimule. Photo credit: SSNRA

The Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reforms has ordered all security agencies deployed along the Juba–Nimule Highway to immediately stop intercepting commercial trucks to collect taxes, fees, or any other revenue charges.

The directive was issued by the committee’s chairperson, General Pieng Deng Kuol, during a fact-finding mission to Nimule, South Sudan’s busiest border crossing, where the committee assessed challenges affecting trade, revenue collection, and the movement of goods along the country’s main trade corridor.

According to a statement by the South Sudan National Revenue Authority, General Pieng said security personnel should only stop vehicles for legitimate security operations and leave all revenue collection to legally mandated government institutions.

“This highway is the main highway that is left for South Sudan, and we want everyone who passes through here to be happy and to ease movement. We don’t want anybody to stop a truck and take anything from it,” General Pieng said.

He stressed that all government revenue should be collected at authorized points, particularly in Nimule, rather than through unofficial collections along the highway.

“What is collected in Nimule, we will try to improve your situation. Don’t do it on your own. Let your government collect the revenue and see what will be given to you and what will be used for delivering your services,” he added.

General Pieng was accompanied by the national ministers of Interior, Trade and Industry, Public Service, Justice, and the Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority among others, during an inspection of security checkpoints at Jele, Ashuwa, Moli, Nyolo, Excom and Korduluma.

At each checkpoint, the committee communicated its resolutions directly to security officers stationed along the corridor.

The committee also acknowledged the operational challenges facing personnel deployed under the Combined Joint Security Operation, which has been securing the highway since 2020 to facilitate the safe movement of people and goods.

General Pieng said the concerns raised by security commanders would be presented to the leadership of the various organized forces to seek lasting solutions.

“In our meetings in Nimule, your commanders have raised your challenges, and we have listened to them. Most of us here were commanders in the army, and we know what is supposed to be done for the army. Despite our situation, you are able to carry out your duties, and that is why I thank you despite the challenges,” he said.

He added that although the government could not promise immediate solutions, efforts were underway to improve the welfare of security personnel.

“We are not going to promise to solve all your challenges, but as your leaders, together with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and other leaders, I believe many things will change,” General Pieng said.

To enforce the directive, the committee announced the formation of a high-level implementation team comprising senior officers from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, the National Police Service, the National Security Service and other organized forces.

According to the committee, the Minister of Interior will supervise implementation to ensure all security checkpoints along the Juba–Nimule Highway comply with the new measures.

The directive forms part of the government’s broader economic reform agenda aimed at removing illegal roadblocks, facilitating trade, improving the movement of goods and strengthening lawful revenue collection through institutions such as the South Sudan Revenue Authority.

The Juba–Nimule Highway is South Sudan’s busiest trade corridor, linking the country to Uganda and the wider East African region and serving as the main route for imported goods entering the country.