Hunger Hangs On South Sudan As Market Prices Rise Steeply.
Juba city dwellers have raised ceiling breaking complaints about the increase in the prices of essential commodities in different markets within the city.
They say the existing economic break down has put more grip on consumers and the suppliers from the beginning of last month and the future is still bleak whether the present economic predicament is ready to subside this month.
Asunta John Mogga, one of the vegetable dealers at customs market in Juba, told this website, that the stable swelling of dollar against South Sudanese pounds is pouring more gasoline in to the already an explosive economic condition in the world’s youngest nation.
“When we went to the market, we found that the prices have gone high and when we asked why, they told us that it is because dollar weight has overridden that of SSP yet we don’t even know what the dollar looks like.” She said.
Asunta told Juba Echo, that they bring a small basin of tomatoes at 2, 000 SSP, and sell a piece at 50 SSP, which gives them a profit of between 100 and 200 SSP per basin.
She however, complained, that her customers are lamenting about the high prices of commodities in markets across South Sudan.
On the other hand, a money changer in Majur Marial market dealing mainly in dollars who preferred anonymity, confirmed that, the demand for the U.S currency is super high in South Sudan at the moment.
“The few dollars we have are coming from NGOs, but there is an acute shortage of it in the market. As you know, some people have houses in Uganda, Kenya and so on, and huge amount of dollars are being sent those countries, so even though you interchange a dollar at between 65,000 to 70,000 SSP some people would still buy,” he said.
Last month, the governor of South Sudan’s central bank, Moses Makur Deng consulted president Salva Kiir Mayardit about what can be done to cap the deteriorating economy that paved way for sharp rise in prices of basic goods such as maize that went up to 35,000SSP from 18,000SSP within a week.
