By No. 1 Citizen
Prices of some basic commodities have increased in Juba following last week’s chaos over brutal murder of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan, allegedly by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).
The incident has instilled fear, leading to the closure of numerous businesses across the city, and in some states.
Many shops, particularly those owned by Sudanese traders, and other foreign nationals remained closed due to fears of retaliation and looting.
Some business owners who have chosen to keep their doors open appear to be taking advantage of the situation, raising their prices significantly.
As of yesterday, the price of a piece of bread has risen from SSP 400 to approximately SSP 600. A piece of onion now costs SSP 1,500, up from SSP 1,000, while three tomatoes have increased from SSP 3,000 to around SSP 5,000.
This rise in prices has affected the purchasing power of low-income earners, making it more challenging for families to afford basic necessities.
Ladu Lukak, the Chairperson of the National Chamber of Commerce, has urged all business owners to reopen their shops and refrain from exploiting consumers.
The Chamber of Commerce in Central Equatoria State has also urged traders to reopen their shops, assuring them of security.
Also, over the weekend, Central Equatoria State Governor Gen. Augustino Jadalla Wani toured markets in Juba, calling on traders to resume operations.
On Saturday, Governor Jadalla visited Konyo-Konyo Market, Jebel Market, and Suk Libya to assess the security situation following protests.
During his visit, the governor interacted with traders and security personnel, assuring them that the situation is calm and under control following the deployment of organized forces in the markets.
He urged South Sudanese citizens to remain calm and avoid any retaliatory actions.
Speaking to the media, Wani Tom Sebit, the State Minister of Trade and Industry, emphasized that the ongoing unrest should not be used as an excuse for looting.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to maintaining security and order through the deployment of security forces to protect traders and their properties.
“The President has directed that all traders and markets be protected, and the governor’s directives on public safety are being implemented,” said Hon. Tom.
Major Gen. Dut Makoi, the Director of Juba County Police, assured traders that security is stable.
“If your shop is closed, you need to reopen. In Konyo-Konyo, no shop has been looted,” he stated.
Juma Taban Abrama, Deputy Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce at Kator Block, appealed to traders to resume their normal business activities.
“The situation was challenging, but we thank the organized forces for protecting the shops in Konyo-Konyo market. They are here to safeguard people and their properties,” Taban said.
Adil Jaffar, Chairperson of the Sudanese Community, called on all foreign traders, particularly Sudanese, to return to business, noting that the situation is under control.
“I want to call on our Sudanese brothers, Somalis, Eritreans, Ethiopians and all foreign traders tomorrow (Sunday) you have to open your shops and work. The government has committed to protect us and we have seen that today through the deployment of organized forces,” said Jaffar.
Video footages showing the gruesome killing of South Sudanese nationals in Wad Madani of Sudan’s Gezira State by the Sudan Armed Forces the previous week triggered a deadly Anti-Sudanese protest in Juba Thursday which quickly spread to other state towns.