Truckers now demand compensation for killed colleagues

The striking truck drivers that have camped at Elegu border point of Uganda have now tabled a fresh demand the government of South Sudan urging it to compensate for the lives of their colleagues that have been murdered along the Nimule- Juba Highway before they can cross the border.

While meeting the authorities from South Sudan— who went to the border to brief them on the government’s assurance to provide them with security on the highway— the drivers gave conditions for lifting their strike.

Demands

The truck drivers were categorical in their approach as they remained unflinching, echoing issues to be ironed out. Their, they demanded for the full compensation of two of their colleagues who lost lives lost and the property.

Speaking to The City Review on a telephone interview from Nimule yesterday, Daniel Deng the chairperson of the clearance agency at Nimule border said there was no agreement reached between the government and the truck drivers.

Daniel said the drivers tabled the same demand they made last month which they said the government had never honoured.

The drivers and authorities were engaged in a face-to-face meeting for the last two days, Friday and Saturday according to Daniel.

“Authorities from South Sudan engaged the drivers and gave them assurance that the government will provide them with security on the highway but still there is no agreement reached,” Daniel said.

“So still they have not reached an agreement,” he said.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Dau Deng on Friday,  September 3, said the trucks were supposed to set off.

Dau made the statement after he met with the ambassadors of Uganda and Kenya to South Sudan.

Speaking of the South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation, he said they have reached an agreement after the government assured truck drivers of their safety.

However, the drivers said they were not consulted when the diplomats met in Juba to discuss their concerns.

“They did not go on the ground to find out what are the grievances of the drivers,” Daniel said

Deng Dau said the government has put measures in place to review and beef up security along the highway.

He said the escort has been increased and the government has advised the trucks to be divided into fifteen or twenty as one convey to have a good escort.

Dau has also advised the drivers not to move as individually, they should wait until when they are five or 10 so that they will be provided with the escort.

He said the government has started clearing bushes along the highway to minimise security threats.

“The government has assured the drivers of removing all roadblocks and other difficulties as expressed by the truck drivers,” the deputy minister said.

However, the drivers are demanding for a formal agreement with the government to avoid repetition of past agreements.

“The drivers are demanding the compensation of the two lives lost and their properties of which earlier they were assured by the government of South Sudan which has not been full-filled until now,” Daniel said.

The drivers did not agree with the idea of the government of South Sudan increasing security on the road; they said the more security forces are deployed on the highway [the more dangerous it is],” Daniel told City Review from Nimule.

“The divers also demand the government to remove all roadblocks saying that the more the government deploys forces on the highway, they more will be stopping drivers and take money from them,” he said.

Daniel said all trucks were still stuck on Elegu border and none of them have crossed to Nimlue.