Rumbek market hit by price hike on basic commodities

October 24, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Lakes state capital Rumbek is feeling the squeeze after being hit by a sharp rise in the prices of commodities.

The price hike comes amid complaints that roads connecting Rumbek to Juba and Wau have been cut off due to insecurity and bad conditions.

A member of a local trade union in Rumbek market who spoke on condition of anonymity said the business community had also been adversely affected by high tax increases imposed by the state government.

He also added that the Rumbek branch of the Kenyan Commercial Bank had refused to release US dollars to the public.

“The high tax imposed on traders has made more traders flee the state to other states. We are also threatened by insecurity,” he said.

Lakes state’s minister for trade and industry, however, declined to comment when contacted by Sudan Tribune regarding the complaints of the local business community.

Rumbek shop owner Moses Majak told Sudan Tribune that local commodities are often not available in the market for up to two days due to poor road connections.

He said the situation for the business community was set to worsen unless the government took steps to reinforce the market with US dollars and improve security on the highway.

He also urged the state government to remove high taxes on basic commodities.

According to Majak, maize flour, sugar and salt were among the commodities that have become scarce at shops operating in town, while the price of a cup of tea had risen from 1 to 3 South Sudanese pounds (SSP).

Lakes state has witnessed a cycle of revenge killings since cattle raiding and inter-clan clashes hit the region in 2005.

Military caretaker Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol is accused of allowing his family members to take part in inter-clan revenge attacks.

Activist, traditional authorities, students and intellectuals have called on South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit to remove Dhuol, but their demands have so far been overlooked.

(ST)