South Sudan: Anger over delay in passports and IDs issuance
Published: 27/Jul/2024
Source: Radio Tamazuj (Juba)
Angry South Sudanese stormed the Department of Nationality, Passport, and Immigration in Juba on Thursday, to voice their frustration over delays in the issuance of travel and identification documents.
The protestors accused officials of dishonesty and poor service, leading to severe personal and financial repercussions.
A particularly heart-wrenching case involved a woman whose child, requiring urgent medical treatment in Israel, has been waiting since May for a passport. The delay has prevented the child from receiving critical surgery despite the mother having paid all the fees.
“My child is 10 years old and missed a chance to go to Israel for surgery because of this passport issue,” the woman told Radio Tamazuj.
“We have been sleeping on the streets, without food or water. What will I do if the medical team returns and my child cannot go?”
Students have also been impacted, with some missing out on scholarship opportunities. One student, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed frustration, stating:
“I do not stay in Juba. I have been wasting money traveling to Juba for nothing, and we are losing scholarships because of the delays. We have presented letters from the Ministry of Education and Foreign Affairs showing our need for the passport, but they kept dodging us.”
The Director-General of the Directorate of Nationality, Civil Registry, Passport, and Immigration, Gen. Simon Majur Pabek, attributed the delays to a shortage of the passport booklets. Pabek explained that the expected delivery last week had not materialized and admitted that the department has a backlog of applicants dating back to 2012. He urged citizens to be patient as they address the issues.
Read further: https://www.radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/anger-over-delay-in-passports-and-ids-issuance