Drivers who ply the Elegu-South Sudan route are demanding for a written assurance of their safety before they can resume work.
The over 2,000 drivers from different East African countries went on strike on April1, 2021 following three attacks on their colleagues where 23 people were killed by suspected South Sudan rebels.
In one of the attacks on March 30, 2021, ten people including truck controllers were killed at Ganji, along the Juba-Yei road.
On Thursday April 1, 2021, five more people were killed along Juba-Nimule road and Sunday April 4, 2021, 8 people including traders and drivers were ambushed at Ganji and killed while returning to Uganda.
During a meeting with the Amuru Resident District Commissioner-RDC Geoffrey Orsbon Oceng on Thursday, the south Sudanese army assured the drivers of their security saying trucks would be escorted in and out of South Sudan.
But Godfrey Wandera, a Kenyan driver representative who attended the meeting said they want the South Sudan government to sign a written commitment on their safety, provide compensation for slayed drivers and their trucks and constantly patrol the Nimule-Juba road.
Major General Akol Ayii, the director General Customs in South Sudan asked for two more days to discuss with his government on the demands.
