Customs Officials Harassing Visitors: Bishop

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala has lamented that harassment of foreigners at the entry points portrays a bad image of SouthSudan.

He has urged the state government to orient their personnel at the customs and check- points to treat people, especially foreigners who come into the country, with dignity.

“Foreigners must get the same treatment they give in their home country to people who visit them and South Sudan is no different”, he said.

The prelate’s concerns come following the recent harassment of two Kenyan drivers by officers at the Yambio town check- point.

“The two Kenyans who were transporting school materials of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio were abused and beaten mercilessly at Bazungua check-point in Yambio on Sunday. The school materials were packed in containers in Netherlands and were meant for the opening of a vocational training school in Mupoi Parish”, he said.

He cautioned against the mistreatment of foreigners, some of whom he said come to benefit South Sudan interms of development.

One of the drivers, Ali Bashir, told Gurtong that officers at Bazungua check- point slapped him fiercely and asked him to pay 220 South Sudanese Pounds despite possessing all the legal documents.

“I am a foreigner I didn’t have any option but to endure the pain and off course it creates a lot of fear whiledriving through the country”, he said.

Officials at the Bazungua check-point confirmed the incident and said investigations have been launched into the incident.