A three day fuel shortage has disrupted public transport and business in South Sudan’s capital Juba, with drivers calling on authorities to supply fuel stations with diesel and petrol.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, several taxi bus drivers said there is a general lack of fuel for three days now, pointing out that it affected vital facilities in the town. Long lines were seen in Juba outside fuel stations.
Nur-Eddin Ahmed, a bus driver, expressed concern that transport costs could increase due to fuel shortage in the city. Companies have cut the number of vehicles plying their routes to save fuel.
People were seen queueing for long hours to board buses and sometimes leaving without getting a ride owing to the lack of buses in operation.
As of Monday, black market fuel venders were selling petrol at 35 South Sudanese Pounds per 1.5 litre bottle.
Radio Tamazuj reported earlier that the street rate for US dollars in Juba city has increased in recent days to 13.2 SSP last week while the official rate at banks remained 3.16.