Conflict affecting trade between Sudan, South Sudan: minister
August 15, 2023 (JUBA) – Trade activities between South Sudan and Sudan have dropped, despite the border remaining open after the war broke out in Sudan in the middle of April 2023, an official said.
South Sudan’s minister for Trade and Industry, Kuol Athian Mawien said commercial activities with Sudan have reduced, essentially affecting the economic performance in the two neighbouring nations.
“Before the current situation in Sudan, there was a movement of goods and services between the two countries. People could go to Khartoum and the rest of the Sudan and in the same way, people from Sudan could come with goods and services. This has significantly reduced. Khartoum has come a war zone and even people fleeing the conflict are not safe”, he explained.
Mawien said the conflict is now impacting on regional economy and security.
“The situation in Sudan is not only a humanitarian crisis but it is also an economic and security issue. It has affected economic activities and it has dropped significantly because of the war,” said the minister.
“War is never a solution to a political issue [but] dialogue does it,” he added.
The minister cited the issue of insecurity, roads and lack of power in major towns in South Sudan as some of the factors undermining development in the country.
“Apart from the current situation in Sudan, the insecurity in some parts of the country is also affecting our economic growth and is also influencing inflationary factors. Since we got our independence, we have never stopped experiencing insecurity in the parts of the country where products could be reached; there are some products in Western Equatoria that can’t be taken to Northern Bahr El Ghazal or Lakes State because of insecurity,” Mawien explained.
He said poor roads hinder transportation of goods to the neighbouring markets.
“For example, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states, there are some products available, but can’t reach Western and Eastern Equatoria. The same applies in Eastern Equatoria and western Equatoria where there are products that can’t reach Upper Nile and this is the problem facing us,” stressed Mawien.
According to the official, power and water shortages also hinder industrial trade.
“When a businessman comes to South Sudan and wants to establish industry there is a problem of power and the problem of water, we have power in Juba but it can’t cover the whole city,” he noted.
The United Nations in South Sudan, which provides humanitarian support, says road movements to some areas in the country are impossible during rainy seasons due to flooding and armed activities within the country.
(ST)