South Sudanese fish traders have strongly contested statements made by the country’s Trade and Industry Minister, William Anyuon Kuol. The minister had attributed the seizure of South Sudanese fish by Ugandan authorities to the traders’ alleged failure to comply with export regulations.
However, Mangar Akuot Yuang, a prominent figure in the fish trade industry, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that all legal documents, including necessary export licenses obtained from the South Sudan Trade Ministry, were in order. “We have all the legal documents and are registered in South Sudan,” Akuot asserted.
Mangar accused Uganda of waging an economic war by disregarding international trade laws governing the transit of goods. “The issue with the Uganda Fisheries Protection Unit isn’t about legal documents or export regulations. The Ugandan government aims to reclaim the fish market for taxation purposes. If the market returns to Uganda, traders will face Ugandan taxes. Additionally, they aim to limit our fish to boost their own market,” Mangar elaborated.
Earlier this week, Ugandan authorities seized $1,127,000 worth of fish belonging to South Sudanese traders. The fish, bound for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was forcefully unloaded in Uganda, leaving traders stranded and worried about both their safety and the perishable goods.
Minister Kuol previously addressed parliament, attributing the seizure to South Sudanese traders’ failure to comply with export regulations. However, this assertion has been strongly contested by the trading community.
As of now, Ugandan authorities have not commented on the issue.