The Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA) has issued a security alert to Kenyan truck drivers travelling to South Sudan following a reported increase in attacks targeting motorists along the country’s major transit corridors.
The warning comes after the killing of Kenyan driver Ahmed Salat, who was reportedly shot dead on August 22 while transporting cargo to Wao.
Salat’s turnman survived the attack but was severely assaulted and remains in critical condition. Footage shared by LoDDCA showed Salat’s truck riddled with bullet holes, with significant damage visible around the hood, mirror head and doors.
“South Sudan has robbed us of a comrade, a friend, a relative, and a family man. Ahmed Salat was shot dead on 22/08/26 while transporting cargo to Wao. His turnman was also badly assaulted and in critical condition,” LoDDCA stated.
In a travel advisory issued on August 24, the association warned that attacks on drivers operating within South Sudan had been rising steadily over the past few weeks.
LoDDCA urged truck drivers, transport companies and fleet operators to strictly observe the safety and security Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) agreed upon in 2021.
One of the key measures is travelling in convoys, with drivers advised to avoid making solo journeys along the transit corridor to reduce the risk of isolated attacks.
The association also reminded truckers to observe the approved travel window, with truck movements restricted to between 8am and 4pm South Sudan time.
“As stipulated in the 2021 SOPs, truck movements should take place strictly between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM South Sudan time. Drivers and transport companies are urged to respect these hours and avoid unnecessary movements outside the agreed travel window,” LoDDCA urged.
Transporters have additionally been advised to secure adequate police escorts when operating in high-risk areas, particularly in Northern South Sudan.
LoDDCA warned drivers against entering areas where adequate security protection cannot be guaranteed and urged them to maintain constant communication with convoy leaders, fleet managers and security contacts.
The association further called for immediate reporting of emerging threats and advised drivers to avoid routes or locations where credible security alerts have been issued.
The security concerns are particularly significant for Kenyan truckers, with between 3,500 and 5,000 long-distance drivers regularly operating along the Northern Corridor. The route carries transit cargo from the Port of Mombasa through Uganda before trucks cross into South Sudan.
South Sudan accounts for approximately 9.9 per cent of Kenya’s total transit trade, while thousands of truck journeys enter Juba annually through the Juba-Nimule Highway, one of the main transport arteries linking the two countries.
The latest killing also highlights wider security concerns facing Kenyan truckers operating in the region.
In April 2026, another Kenyan driver, Edwin Njuguna Ngugi, was killed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after his vehicle broke down near Bunia. He was reportedly stranded in an insecure area before being attacked by armed assailants. His decomposing body was later discovered in a bush.
LoDDCA has now called on the Government of South Sudan, security agencies and transport authorities to strengthen security along major truck routes, particularly as the country enters an election period.
The association wants authorities to increase security patrols, provide police escorts in identified high-risk areas, enforce the approved travel hours and improve the sharing of intelligence with transporters and drivers.
“We call upon the Government of South Sudan, security agencies, and transport authorities to urgently strengthen security along major truck corridors,” LoDDCA stated.
The association also stressed the importance of protecting truckers who transport essential supplies across the region. “Truck drivers are essential to the movement of food, fuel, medicines and other critical supplies across the region. Their lives must be protected,” LoDDCA stated.
It urged drivers and transport operators to take the security warning seriously and adhere to the agreed safety measures.
