Cargo transporters suspend services to South Sudan

Transporters ferrying cargo to troubled South Sudan have suspended their operations until calm returns to the young nation.

The transporters and clearing agents are concerned about the violence in South Sudan and fear they could be caught in the middle of the fighting as they transport goods there.

Clearing agents at the Malaba border said that they had witnessed a decline in the number of cargo trucks that were heading to South Sudan.

Kenya International Freight Forwarders and Warehousing Association Malaba Secretary, Deo Otia, said cargo heading to Juba had been stopped at the port of Mombasa following the violence that is being witnessed.

Mr Otia said that no truck heading to Juba had been cleared at the border as the transporters decided to withhold their vehicles at the Port of Mombasa while those cleared had sought alternative parking in neighbouring Uganda.

“Transporters are worried with the ongoing violence in South Sudan and fear that their trucks and cargo belonging to their clients might be destroyed and therefore have suspended their operations to South Sudan,” he said.

Mr Otia further added that the agents who were handling cargo destined for South Sudan were without work as no cargo truck heading for Juba had left the port of Mombasa.

He said many of the agents who depended on this cargo were without income during the festive season as many of them were earning commission per cargo cleared.

He pointed out that some of the agents were not contracted to clearing companies and therefore their main income arose from the commission earned.

“Many of those who handle cargo to South Sudan are trained independent agents and only earn through commission that they get and the ongoing situation leaves them without income during the festive period,” said Mr Otia.

He further pointed out that the trucks coming into Kenya from Juba were the ones that had left the war-prone areas early enough and had already made it across the border into Uganda.

The United States, which was instrumental in South Sudan winning independence, has reiterated it will cut off aid if Kiir is ousted in a coup.

South Sudan is currently witnessing violence started by armed forces believed to be loyal to former South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar.

So far, some of the Kenyans who had been trapped in the troubled country have been evacuated and flown in to Kenya while others have been entering Kenya through road.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday travelled to South Sudan to find a way to end the crisis by holding meetings with South Sudan President Salva Kiir.