A traffic police on duty in the street of Juba. | Photo: Courtesy.

The Director General of South Sudan Traffic Police says his institution is not answerable to the country’s legislative body but only to President Salva Kiir, the Commander-In-Chief of all organized forces.

Major General Kon John scolded the transitional parliament after the latter passed a law banning renewal of logbooks and granting motorists access to permanent logbooks.

The legislature included the legal provision in the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget, to stamp on allegations of harassment and extortion of motorists by traffic police officers in the streets of Juba and major cities.

But it did not go well with the police official, who accused the national parliament of interference in his department.

“You, as a parliamentarian, work in your field. You were not chosen to interfere in traffic affairs,” he said speaking to an online news site named South Sudan Media.

“The traffic department is the sole responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief of the Organized Forces, who is President Salva Kiir, the Minister of the Interior, and the Inspector General.”

“You have no right to interfere in the affairs of the well-known organized military force. So, I appeal to you as a parliament, do not look for problems.”

As a matter of facts, public administration and law enforcement agencies, such as the traffic police, are typically subject to the laws enacted by representative bodies like the National Parliament.

The parliament, as a legislative body, holds the power to pass legislation and make changes to various aspects of governance, including matters related to traffic regulations and policies.