Poor roads and rainy conditions in northern Unity State and the bordering area of West Kordofan have brought business to a standstill, causing prices of basic commodities to rise in Mayom and Abiemnhom markets.

Last week similar conditions caused prices to rise in neighboring Abyei last week, with traders and truck drivers saying floods had significantly damaged roads.

“There is no traffic of tracks from the north entering South Sudan,” said Adam Musa, a businessman in Mayom. “We are waiting until it stops raining and the soil dries up.”

Within the counties of Abiemnhom and Mayom, citizens and traders have resorted to moving by foot and motorbike. Heavy rains have cut the main road to the state capital Bentiu.

Mayom Commissioner John Bol said that it is not possible to get to his county from Bentui by road, saying the road conditions have caused prices to rise.

The commissioner also reported that traders coming from Debab in northern Abyei have faced problems from armed robbers.

George Dak, an MP representing Mayom County in the state assembly, said that about six people have made their way from Mayom to Bentiu footing for four days.

The MP said that those people encountered many challenges on their way including attacks by wild animals.

Speaking by phone from Abiemnhom, Commissioner Arop Turuk said that his county is also cut off from Bentiu since June. However, some goods have been able to get through by motorcycle from Wau via Twic County of Warrap State.

“There is shortage of goods in the market with their price increasing,” he said. 

Photo: A truck stranded in mud on the Mayom-Abiemnhom route in northern Unity State, South Sudan (UN)

Related coverage: Key northern roads 'severely damaged' in South Sudan, 6 August 2013