Rising Boda-Boda Accidents in South Sudan Spark Urgent Safety Calls

At a busy junction near Juba Teaching Hospital, the hustle and bustle of boda-boda motorcycles highlights the urgency of transportation. However, Isaac Maker, the medical director at the hospital, says many of the motorcycles' drivers and passengers end up in the hospital's emergency room, with numerous cases resulting in fatalities.

The out patient department register book at the hospital reveals a distressing reality, with daily entries ranging from five to 10 traffic accident victims.

"We are not happy with what we are seeing," Maker told VOA, who called on the need for preventive measures.

He says reducing accidents would safeguard the lives of young South Sudanese, who are crucial for the nation's future.

The World Health Organization says road traffic deaths and injuries remain a major global health and development challenge — and as of 2019, road traffic crashes are the leading killer of children and youth aged 5 to 29 years.

In its 2023 Global Status Report on Road Safety, the WHO says "Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists remain dangerously exposed."

The most recent WHO data estimates road traffic death rate in South Sudan at 29.9 fatalities per 100,000 population.

The Rev. Joseph Mori Lasu, a recent traffic accident victim, said various factors are contributing to the problem.

Lasu says speeding, lack of proper documentation, alcohol consumption, and a desire to showcase new motorcycles has significantly contributed to motorcycle accidents in Juba.

"Motorcycles or Boda-boda, I see that they ride too fast. Some others ride too fast because they don’t have proper documents and when they reach a checkpoint, they speed up," he said.

First Lt. Ruei Mun Ruei, spokesperson for the South Sudan National Traffic Police, acknowledged the prevalence of boda-boda accidents but emphasized the shared responsibility of both the traffic police and the public in reducing such incidents.

"The traffic police will continue to enforce the traffic laws," Ruei said, calling on the need for public cooperation.

Augustino Motando, a 53-year-old boda-boda driver, said it is important for drivers to understand and adhere to South Sudan's traffic laws.

"If you know the laws of South Sudan, you will not even have an accident. You keep your right," Motando said.