(TORIT) – The government of Eastern Equatoria State has rejected recent claims of widespread insecurity along the Torit-Juba road, saying the route remains safe for travel and business.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Communication, officials said reports of robbery, attacks and child abductions had been exaggerated and did not apply to the entire stretch of the highway.
The ministry clarified that the incidents being shared occurred only on the section between Juba and Liria in Central Equatoria State:
“It is important to note that these incidents occurred in Central Equatoria between Juba and Liria and should not be generalised to cover the whole road,” the statement read.
Information Minister Elia John Ahaji assured the public that the section of the road within Eastern Equatoria is secure:
“The section of the road within Eastern Equatoria is safe for travellers, although individuals should remain vigilant, particularly when travelling from Liria to Juba,” he said.
The minister also addressed social media reports alleging clashes between Toposa youth and Kenyan Defence Forces at Nadapal. He dismissed these as misleading, explaining that the situation involved Turkana herders and their Toposa counterparts in Mogila North kraal searching for three missing cows:
“There has been no reported fighting,” he added.
The statement called on citizens to avoid rumours on social media and instead rely on official channels for accurate updates:
“We want to assure the public that travels on Eastern Equatoria roads are safe and business activities continue without interruption.”
The government reaffirmed in a press release that Eastern Equatoria remains peaceful, stressing that misinformation can damage public confidence and affect trade along one of South Sudan’s busiest routes.
Key Points from the Statement
| Issue Reported | Government Clarification | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Road insecurity (robbery, attacks, child abductions) | Isolated cases only between Juba and Liria | Central Equatoria |
| Safety of Torit-Juba road in Eastern Equatoria | Road remains safe, travel continues | Eastern Equatoria |
| Alleged Toposa–Kenya Defence Forces clashes | No clashes reported; herders were searching for missing cattle | Nadapal, Kapoeta East |
| Business and travel | Uninterrupted | Eastern Equatoria |
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