Kenyan truck drivers have drawn a line in the sand, threatening a total blockade of cargo to South Sudan following a fresh wave of brutal attacks, extortion, and arbitrary detentions that have turned the Juba-Nimule highway into a death trap.

The diplomatic pleasantries are over. What was meant to be a trade corridor has devolved into a lawless gauntlet where drivers are routinely beaten, fleeced by uniformed officers, and thrown into indefinite detention without trial. The Long-Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA) has issued a chilling ultimatum: unless the South Sudanese government reins in its rogue security forces immediately, the wheels stop turning. This is not just a labour dispute; it is a desperate cry for survival from the men and women who keep the region’s supply chains alive but are treated as collateral damage in a breakdown of bilateral order.

A Corridor of Terror

The grievances listed by the drivers read like a war crime dossier rather than a trade dispute. Despite a high-profile deal struck recently to guarantee their safety, drivers report that nothing has changed on the ground. The Juba-Nimule highway remains a predator’s playground where illegal roadblocks are manned by soldiers who demand bribes at gunpoint. Those who cannot pay are subjected to physical assault or have their cargo seized.

“We are not just losing money; we are losing our dignity and our lives,” a representative from the transporters’ association stated in a tense press briefing. The association highlighted specific, harrowing cases that expose the systemic nature of the abuse. One Kenyan driver, Mohamed Abukar Muumin, remains detained in Juba under unclear circumstances, reportedly fined an exorbitant sum that reeks of state-sanctioned extortion. Another Tanzanian national, Juma Ally Maganga, was thrown behind bars following a road accident, illustrating a judicial system that presumes foreigners guilty until proven bankrupt.

• The "Blue House" Nightmare: Drivers speak in hushed tones about the National Security Service’s detention facility, known as the "Blue House," where detainees allegedly face inhumane conditions with no access to legal counsel.
• The Extortion Racket: Checkpoints have morphed into toll stations for personal enrichment, with drivers forced to part with hundreds of dollars per trip just to pass through, erasing their profit margins and ability to feed their families.
• Broken Promises: The drivers are particularly incensed that these violations continue despite assurances from Juba that the harassment would end, signaling a total disconnect between the government’s words and its soldiers’ actions.

Diplomacy on the Brink

The economic ramifications of a strike would be catastrophic for South Sudan, a landlocked nation that relies almost entirely on the port of Mombasa for its imports. Fuel, food, and medical supplies would dry up within days if the Kenyan fleet parks its brakes. Yet, the drivers argue they have no choice. The risk of crossing the border now outweighs the reward of the payload.

“If the government cannot protect us, we will not feed them,” one driver declared, summarizing the mood of a workforce pushed to the breaking point. As the standoff intensifies, the ball is firmly in Juba’s court: restore order and respect for the rule of law, or face a crippling economic siege of its own making.