The citizens of Bor town in South Sudan’s Jonglei State are complaining of a sharp increase in the prices of consumer goods in the approach to Christmas.
Basic food commodities such as sugar, flour and cooking oil have virtually increased. Information gathered from vendors indicates that a bag of sugar used to be sold at 9,800 SSP but now costs 12,000 SSP and a sack of flour used to be sold for 4,000 SSP but now costs 5,500.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, several residents expressed dissatisfaction with the soaring prices of commodities in the market.
Anger Panchol, a resident of Bor, said she could not afford basic necessities for Christmas saying business people sell consumer goods at exorbitant prices.
“The prices of clothes and food items increase every day. We cannot afford to buy for this festive season. This is affecting us a lot since Christmas is an important feast,” she said.
Panchol urged the relevant authorities to control the prices of commodities in the market.
Michael Gai, another resident of Bor town, blamed the soaring prices on greedy traders.
A businessman Mabior Kuol Ajok, who also serves as information secretary of the state chamber of commerce admitted that the prices have increased in recent weeks.