Travelers entering and exiting South Sudan, particularly citizens of East African Community (EAC) member states, are reportedly facing unlawful charges and mistreatment at immigration checkpoints, sparking outrage from civil society.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) and Chairperson of the East African Civil Society Organizations Forum, has condemned the intimidation and harassment of travelers at the country’s borders, describing it as a growing concern that threatens South Sudan’s regional image.
“We have received alarming reports of citizens from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, and Burundi being treated in a harsh and intimidating manner at points of entry and departure,” Yakani stated. “This behavior is unacceptable and tarnishes the reputation of our country.”
In addition to mistreatment, Yakani pointed to questionable financial demands imposed by border officials. “There are cases where travelers are charged SSP 20,000 or more at certain checkpoints. We question the legality of these payments, as South Sudanese do not face such charges when entering other EAC countries,” he said.
Yakani further emphasized that such practices violate the principles of the EAC Common Market Protocol, particularly the free movement of persons, which aims to allow EAC citizens to travel across member states without visa restrictions.
South Sudan officially joined the EAC bloc in 2016 and has been in the process of domesticating regional treaties. However, challenges in fully implementing the EAC free visa protocol persist, with border policies often failing to reflect the intended integration framework.
The activist appealed to the Ministry of Interior, the Directorate of Immigration, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Ministry of East African Affairs to urgently investigate and stop the misconduct.
“With high respect, I urge the relevant authorities to take this matter seriously. These actions violate regional cooperation principles and basic human rights,” he said. “Even if South Sudanese are sometimes mistreated in other countries, we must set a higher standard by treating others lawfully and respectfully,” he added.
“This is a matter of national image and legal integrity. Our migration services must reflect respect, equality, and accountability,” he concluded, saying the civil society community will continue to monitor how people are treated at South Sudan’s border posts and will publicly condemn any further abuses.
