Robert Pitia News Today

South Sudanese are concerned over the alarming increase in prices of commodities and consumer goods in the capital Juba and the oil-producing capital, Bentiu.

Inhabitants of South Sudan’s capital Juba say commodity prices shot up after the festive season which they attribute to a strong dollar and resultant inflation.

Central Equatoria’s Chamber of Commerce has requested Juba City Council and the Islamic Council to await a court verdict over their ownership claims of 200 shops at Konyo-konyo market.

The residents of Juba City have raised concerns over the high cost of living occasioned by the sudden increment of commodity prices since the beginning of May.

Traders in Juba are threatening to close their shops to protest “high taxes” on their goods. They say their businesses are collapsing because of high and multiple taxations.

Konyo Konyo Market in Juba, South Sudan. [Photo: JA Akec, 2017] Traders in the Juba are treating the gains made by the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) against the US Dollar with cautious circumspection and say they are skeptical that the local currency will remain stable because prices of commodities in the market have not fallen.  Early last week, the SSP gained against the USD as a result of the Central Bank injecting USD 5 million into the market by auctioning the hard currency to commercial ban...

Konyo Konyo Market, Juba, South Sudan. [Photo: Silvano Yokwe] The Juba City Council has directed all shop owners within the city to paint their shops within one month and that defaulters will be subjected to punitive measures and or fines. Earlier last week, the city council issued a standing order that all the shops within the city be painted blue and yellow. According to the director of the Juba Blocks in the City Council, John Ponsiano, the authority has ordered the traders to start painting...