Several boats arrived at Adok Port in Leer County on Friday, marking the first such shipments since last month’s deadly incident at the Wangthok checkpoint in Yirol East County, Lake State.
Authorities confirmed the arrival after weeks of delays caused by heightened insecurity along the river route. Many vessels had been held in Bor following the Wangthok incident, where armed men attacked a boat traveling from Panyijiar County to Juba. Six people remain missing after the attack, which killed four and left 43 others rescued.
Daniel Dak, chairman of the Leer County Boats Union, told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that the newly arrived boats were transporting goods to Upper Nile State, with only one remaining in Adok Port.
“Six boats and two barges continued to Upper Nile State,” Dak said. “Five belong to a U.N. agency, while one is carrying commercial goods for traders.”
He cited insecurity and excessive taxation along the river as major challenges, particularly at the Wangthok checkpoint. However, he praised Jonglei State authorities for providing security escorts to deter attacks.
Leer County Commissioner Taker Riek Dong confirmed the shipments, noting delays due to the Wangthok violence. He said the resumption of river transport was critical for communities in Unity and Upper Nile states, which rely heavily on goods shipped from Juba.
“Local residents are now receiving essential goods again,” Dong said. “Prices had skyrocketed—a sack of sorghum rose from 200,000 to 400,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP).”
Dong said traders reported numerous checkpoints along the river, with each boat forced to pay up to 5 million SSP in fees.
Trader Taker Gatluok Biel welcomed the resumed shipments, saying they would help stabilize prices.
“One sack of sugar now costs 330,000 SSP,” he said. “The river route is open again, and we hope to keep supplying goods to our communities.”