Africa-Press – South-Sudan. An activist has urged Inspector General of Police (IGP) General Said Chawul Lam to establish a formal mechanism, enabling citizens to report traffic police who defy his recent ban on illegal stops and extortion.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), praised the IGP’s directive, which specifically exempted water tankers from being stopped due to their vital role in delivering essential services.
This announcement comes after widespread concerns that some officers illegally stopped vehicles to demand bribes from drivers.
Yakani, however, urged General Chawul Lam to complement the ban by establishing a formal mechanism that allows citizens, including water tanker operators and foreign nationals, to easily report cases of extortion.
The activist highlighted that traffic police often heavily target water tankers, forcing operators to pay bribes that are then passed on to residents, resulting in higher water prices.
“We are so impressed that you have responded to our multiple calls that we have made for the period of over three years,” Yakani stated, but emphasized that compliance must be monitored.
“We as civil society will track how much traffic police officers have complied with your directives and establish a mechanism for citizens and water tanks and drivers to complain… who are badly harassed, intimidated and humiliated sometimes by some of our traffic police officers and that have destroyed the image of our country.”
CEPO indicated that it will closely monitor compliance with the IGP’s order and collaborate on establishing a transparent mechanism to hold accountable the few officers whose malpractices tarnish the country’s image.
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