The South Sudan Bar Association has announced its intention to file a lawsuit against the Ministry of the Interior and the Traffic Police Department for illegal practices targeting private vehicle owners. The Association's Secretary General, Stephen Martin Nyichar, stated that they had contacted Caretaker Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Rizik Zachariah Hassan and demanded that the illegal practices stop, but the ministry had not responded. The Association also informed the Ministry of Justice about the actions of the traffic police department.
According to Nyichar, the fines imposed by the traffic police were not approved by the Interior Ministry, but rather a unilateral decision by the traffic department. He stressed that the receipts issued by the General Directorate of Traffic are not approved by the Ministry of Finance or the Revenue Authority, which are the only two entities legally authorized to collect public funds. This move by the traffic police has been deemed illegal by the Bar Association.
The Bar Association has given the Ministry of Interior a seven-day deadline to reverse the decisions. Nyichar stated that the official announcement of the commencement of the lawsuit against the Ministry of Interior will be made at a press conference in the coming days. The Association stands by its decision to proceed with legal action against the Ministry of Interior, citing the violation of the directives of the Bank of South Sudan.
One of the illegal practices cited by the Bar Association is the requirement for citizens to pay fines in US dollars, which violates the directives of the Bank of South Sudan. The Bank stipulates that the national currency must be used instead of foreign currencies. This move has come at a time when the country is witnessing an economic downturn, with the population experiencing financial hardships.
The traffic police's decision to require owners of commercial vehicles to replace their license plates at USD 400 has also been disputed by the Bar Association. Nyichar stated that no agreement had been reached with the traffic department, making recourse to the judiciary inevitable. The traffic department is still issuing license plates to business owners, despite the dispute.
General Kon John Akot, Assistant Inspector General in charge of Traffic Police, has been faulted for issuing illegal directives regarding traffic fines and issuance of license plates. The South Sudan Bar Association's move to sue the Interior Ministry and the Traffic Police Department is seen as a bold step towards addressing the issue. Efforts to get comment from the police spokesperson on the matter were unsuccessful.
The imposition of traffic fines payable in US dollars has come at a time when the country is facing economic challenges. The population is experiencing financial hardships, and beggars are increasing on Juba's streets. The Bar Association's lawsuit aims to address these issues and ensure that the rights of citizens are protected.
Key points
- The South Sudan Bar Association cites the violation of the directives of the Bank of South Sudan as one of the reasons for the lawsuit.
- The traffic police's requirement for citizens to pay fines in US dollars has been deemed illegal.
- The Bar Association has given the Ministry of Interior a seven-day deadline to reverse the decisions.
