Interior Ministry Cancels Traffic Directives

(JUBA) – The Ministry of Interior has cancelled several recent traffic orders that caused concern among drivers, transport operators and businesses in South Sudan. The decision is expected to reduce tension on the roads and bring clarity to traffic enforcement countrywide.

The Acting Minister of Interior, Mangar Buong Aluenge, issued Ministerial Order Number 03 of 2025 on 19 December 2025. The order cancels traffic instructions that were earlier announced by the Director of Traffic Police, Major General Kon John Akot. These instructions had introduced new charges and restrictions on certain types of vehicles.

The cancelled traffic rules affected vehicles with factory tinted windows, vehicles with locally added tint, right hand drive vehicles and passenger minibuses with doors on the right side. Many drivers and transport businesses said the rules would increase costs and disrupt daily movement, especially for public transport and goods delivery.

The move comes a day after the Inspector General of Police, General Said Chawul Lom, also issued an order stopping the same traffic measures. This showed a unified decision by senior government and police leaders to address public complaints.

In the ministerial order, the Acting Minister said he used his powers under the Transitional Constitution and the National Police Service Act. He explained that the changes would remain in place until the Police Leadership Council makes a final decision.

The order states that vehicle logbooks and insurance documents must be issued separately. This means they should no longer be combined into one card. The aim is to make vehicle records clearer for both drivers and authorities.

All charges on factory tinted vehicles have been stopped until further notice. For vehicles with local tint, the tint should be removed but no money should be charged. This removes a major point of disagreement between drivers and traffic police.

The order also suspends any requirement to change vehicles to left hand drive or to change vehicle doors. This is important for businesses and organisations that use imported vehicles, including transport companies and service providers.

The Inspector General of Police has been directed to make sure the order is followed by all traffic police officers. This is meant to ensure that enforcement on the roads matches the new instructions.

Although no specific fines were mentioned in the cancelled orders, drivers had feared high costs. At the current market rate, one United States dollar equals about 7,100 South Sudan pounds, and any new charges could have placed a heavy burden on households and small businesses.

The ministerial order was signed in Juba on 19 December 2025 and shared with the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of Traffic Police for immediate action.