The business community across the country is warning that a lack of hard currency is making it increasingly difficult for them to continue operating.

Dollars are scarce at banks across Juba, businesspeople said, which makes it difficult to import commodities for resale.

Tibo Brahan Obiga, the chairperson of the Uganda Community in South Sudan, told Radio Miraya that many Ugandans working in the country have been forced to stop operations because of the lack of hard currency.

“Most of our brothers and sisters have closed their businesses, while others have gone back to their respective countries. Some few of us who are trying to struggle with the business, it is because we have a very strong clientele base and you cannot simply close like that.”

The story is the same in Yei. Jacob Taban, the deputy chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce there, told Radio Easter that a government intervention was critical.

He said even dollars on the black market are no longer affordable. They now cost 7.5 pounds, up from 5 at the beginning of the year.