(JUBA) – Lawmakers in South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly have criticised new traffic charges, calling them illegal and an additional burden on citizens. The controversy emerged during a session of the TNLA on Tuesday, where MPs said recent orders from the Traffic Police Director violated laws passed by parliament.
The new measures introduce fees for driving tests and change the renewal periods for vehicle logbooks and driving licences. Giel Thou, an MP representing Mayom County, accused Traffic Police Director General Kon John Akot of implementing rules “meant to extort money from the citizens.”
The criticism focuses on a new mandatory driving test certificate, required even for holders of valid licences, with renewal every six months. MPs and human rights activists have argued that the requirement is unnecessary and adds financial pressure on citizens.
“The director of police has violated the law,” said Thou, referring to a parliamentary amendment from two years ago that made vehicle logbooks permanent, rather than subject to renewal every five years.
Samuel Buhori Loti, chair of parliament’s committee on security and public order, said the traffic police continued to operate under outdated regulations despite new laws. He accused the traffic director of ignoring legislation, noting that including insurance details in logbooks effectively reinstates an annual renewal requirement.
“The minister did not respond to requests for clarification,” Loti said. “Traffic police still operate under a 2003 law from the pre-independence era.”
TNLA Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba intervened during the session, noting that the enforced traffic regulations did not reflect legislative decisions. “This issue of traffic has become too much for citizens. Every day there is a new law,” she said. Parliament annually approves revenue sources and determines what traffic police may collect.
Speaker Kumba emphasised that logbooks are issued once, until a vehicle is sold, and any contrary practices are illegal. On driving licences, she noted that parliament had approved a five-year renewal period. “The minister of interior should answer for this,” she said. “Citizens are already suffering. You cannot add more suffering.”
She also raised concerns over inconsistent and expanding requirements, including permits for tinted vehicle windows. Kumba reiterated parliament’s commitment to addressing the issue and warned that the Interior Minister must be held accountable for the changes.
| Traffic Rule | New Requirement | Parliamentary Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Driving test certificate | Mandatory every six months | Not approved |
| Vehicle logbook renewal | Annual requirement reinstated | Issued once until sale |
| Driving licence | Renewal every 5 years | Approved by TNLA |
| Tinted window permits | Additional requirement | Not approved |
