Six Ugandan Truck Drivers Missing After South Sudan Abduction

Six Ugandan truck drivers have disappeared after armed individuals reportedly abducted them and commandeered their trucks in Bor Town, Jonglei State, South Sudan. The drivers were allegedly taken between Tuesday and Wednesday morning from the Mina Fish Port and Lew-dier docking site, key locations for fish exports across East Africa.

Isaac Katabazi, Chairperson of the Alliance for Heavy Trucks Federation, confirmed that six trucks were seized. Reports from stranded drivers in Bor suggest the perpetrators are suspected soldiers of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF). The trucks, including those with registration numbers UAF 901U, SSD 517E, and UA 861, were reportedly used to transport fish and were allegedly commandeered to move local militias involved in fighting rebels in Jonglei State.

Efforts to get a comment from SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang were unsuccessful by press time. Katabazi also reported that two other Ugandan drivers, identified as Rasta and Ashraf, sustained injuries after being beaten when they resisted the seizure of their trucks. The injured drivers are receiving medical treatment in Bor, while many other drivers have gone into hiding due to fear of further attacks.

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The attackers assaulted me severely. When I moved out and moved a short distance, I found my boss, who asked me to park. I had been allocated a security person who moved out with my big phone to speak with my boss. I used the chance to get out of the car and fled into hiding. But my back is hurting because of the assault.

One driver, speaking anonymously, described a severe assault and the loss of his truck. He managed to escape on foot after his attempt to drive away failed, despite being assigned a security guard. "The attackers assaulted me severely. When I moved out and moved a short distance, I found my boss, who asked me to park. I had been allocated a security person who moved out with my big phone to speak with my boss. I used the chance to get out of the car and fled into hiding. But my back is hurting because of the assault," the driver recounted.

Katabazi has alerted Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and called for urgent diplomatic intervention to secure the drivers' release and recover the vehicles. He warned that the incident could damage trade relations between Uganda and South Sudan, citing existing concerns over insecurity and harassment faced by Ugandan truck drivers on the Nimule-Juba highway. "I'm appealing to everybody and all stakeholders this time not to allow the drivers to get hurt because I know the circumstances that will come out. However much they want to use our tr," Katabazi stated.

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I'm appealing to everybody and all stakeholders this time not to allow the drivers to get hurt because I know the circumstances that will come out. However much they want to use our tr