Nimule-Juba Highway Placed Under Siege As Military Demand Salary Increment

Soldiers in South Sudan (nilepost.co.ug)

The South Sudanese Joint Command Council (JCC) has imposed a siege on the Nimule-Juba highway and ordered residents of Nimule and surrounding areas to evacuate before any military clashes.

On Sunday, the JCC informed residents that Nimule town was under siege and that forces led by Cde John Aborcup Akuer had attacked the military base inside Nimule town at Nimule Airstrip on October 11, as a warning to civilians to evacuate, but the attack was largely ignored.

“Civilians in the vicinity of Nimule town and surrounding are asked to evacuate immediately. Evacuate Nimule now,” reads part of the statement seen by this website.

The JCC claimed in the statement that they had informed President Kiir and South Sudanese community leaders in Juba, Kenya, that the Nimule-Juba road is closed until further notice.

This has cut of business between South Sudan and her EAC counterparts since most of the goods go through Nimule-Juba highway.

Apparently, any vehicle travelling along Nimule road highway big or small, marked or unmarked is considered a camouflaged carrier of military cargo for President Kiir and Riak Machar’s military.

The Joint Command Council accuse the government of S.Sudan for causing economic imbalance in the country including among soldiers.

“Civilians across South Sudan are advised to purchase enough food as the Nimule road will be closed until the government of South Sudan agrees to pay each private/soldier in armed forces a salary of USD 200 per a month,” the JCC said.

The Nile Post had established by press time that many cargo trucks awaiting entry into South Sudan had stopped due to the fluid situation along the Nimule-Juba highway.