Soldier stops a passenger car on Monday night along Juba-Yambio road|Photo|Eye Radio

Some public transport drivers in Western Equatoria state say they have suspended movement along Juba-Yambio road due to dozens of roadblocks and exorbitant fee charges.

The drivers have accused members of the organized of erecting between 21 and 26 checkpoints and collecting fees.

While the Yambio County commissioner says he was not aware, the army spokesperson advised the drivers to raise their complaints through official channels.

In a voice recording by Eye Radio Tuesday morning, a bus conductor could be heard pleading with a soldier over a fee he was asked to pay.

The man Eye Radio withheld his identity gave 2000 pounds, but the soldier turned it down demanding for more, while warning the conductor to pack the car on the road aside.

Speaking to Eye Radio from Yambio town on Tuesday, some drivers said they  decided to suspend their movement along Juba-Yambio road due to the multiple road fees.

“There is a problem of roadblocks that is why drivers are angry.  They complained a lot to the government but there’s no response. A person who moves from here (Juba) to Yambio will spend like 150, 000 pounds, that’s the issue,” said Moses Henry, one of the drivers.

According to him, the drivers will resume work if the matter is settled by the government.

Another driver Yaba Nyee  said they were not against the road block, but the multiple charges imposed on them by members of the organized forces.

He called on the government to intervene. “The thing we need from our government is to reduce the charges to small amount because the vehicles we use are not ours, and if we go to the owners, they assume we stole the money,” he said.

When contacted, the Western Equatoria County Commissioner, Mbiko Barakat said he was not aware about the concerns raised, neither was the state governor.

“We are not aware, even the governor is not aware, we don’t have any single information like that one maybe that’s their own thing they want to make, but they have not informed us officially.”

Meanwhile, the army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang  encouraged the complaining drivers to channel their concerns through the official channels.

‘You know whenever claim is made for it to be authentic some kind of additional investigation must be done.

“If they feel aggrieved by the organized forces along Juba-Yambio roads, then they should channel their concerns through the official channels.