16 traders have been awarded contracts to supply food to the contested Abyei area between Sudan and South Sudan.

Achuil Bak, a member of the bidding committee, said that the traders, who will supply Aney area and other places within the disputed zone, have gone to Juba to receive dollars from the bank so they can bring goods back to Abyei.

“We are now waiting for them to come back with a convoy to Anet area,” he said.

Bak pointed out that the program aims to help traders sell food items at affordable prices at the market, saying a monitoring committee will be formed to supervise the market.

The committee member complained about the unfavorable exchange rate for SSP against the dollar in South Sudan.