Pibor town, the capital of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), is running out of basic goods as the main road linking the town to the capital, Juba, remained closed for the past two weeks due to insecurity.
Zechariah Nyiboy, the head of the GPAA chamber of commerce, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that most goods have run out because they have not been able to resupply because the Juba-Pibor road has become impassable due to fear of insecurity since the beginning of the year.
“Goods have run out of stock at the Pibor market. We have only been able to supply the most basic goods like salt, sugar, and flour using aircraft,” Nyiboy said. “The prices have risen, for example, a sachet of salt which sold at 100 SSP a month ago is now 700 SSP.”
The businessman called on the government to intervene so that they are able to stock up goods before rains render the road impassable.
“A sack of flour now increased to 35 000 SSP from 20, 000 SSP, a 20 liter of oil has risen from 20 000 SSP to 26, 000 SSP, and it is going up, and a bag of sugar sack now sells at 83 500 SSP,” Nyoboy lamented. The situation will worsen if the rains start because we will not be able to use the road so we want our government to look into this issue.”
A local government official in Pibor, Nyany Korok, said, “The average citizens in Pibor are paying the price as the road remains closed and this not good. My worry is that if this trend continues, the situation may escalate into inter-communal violence. I want the national government to intervene. “
For his part, Lokali Amae, the GPAA chief administrator, called for calm as efforts are ongoing to address rampant insecurity along the road.
“Indeed, there has been a shortage of goods caused by recurring insecurity since last year. Traders are not able to use roads and prices of basics like oil and sugar are getting high,” Amae said. “My message is that there should be calm because I have engaged the Jonglei State governor and he will be able to control their youth. For us, we will also talk to our youth to be at peace.”
Movement along the Juba-Pibor road was suspended a week ago following repeated attacks on traders plying the road.