Traders at the main market in Warrap State have raised concerns over poor road conditions and illegal checkpoints that are increasing the price of goods imported to the state via Western Bahr al Ghazal.
The traders say that roadblocks are overcharging commercials vehicles traveling with goods along the Juba-Wau-Kwajok route.
South Sudanese trader Nhom Chot Adiang said the poor exchange rate of South Sudanese pounds for hard currency in Juba is another factor, putting the rate at 100 USD for 470 SSP.
The traders need dollars in order to purchase goods in Uganda. Adiang said prices are also high in Uganda where they normally purchase most of their goods.
He said it can cost businesses $11,000 to hire a 50 tonne truck to reach Warrap, and the journey can take a month.
“In Western Bahr el Ghazal, there is also high taxes imposed on every vehicle to Warrap – sometimes authorities ask traders to pay 1,200 SSP in Wau alone.”
He said taxes were especially high in Jur River County, the route that passes into Wau from the east, as compared to the southern route coming from Western Equatoria.
Northern trader Adem Arun accused CID and traffic police along the route of asking unnecessary documents seeking ways to get money from every trader coming with goods.
“When you hire a vehicle to transport goods from Juba to Warrap you may get it at 25 thousand but reaching Warrap increases the cost to 27 thousand due to many roadblocks.”
“For us traders we have got no problems but the people to suffer are the buyers – the citizens of Warrap State.”
Head of the Traders’ Union in Warrap State Akech Mayar confirmed the increasing prices saying he was “concerned about the roadblocks along the road that disturbed traders to Warrap, which I have raised to the office of the deputy governor.”
Meanwhile, youths in Jur River County are reported to have volunteered to rescue vehicles stranded along the Wau-Tonj road, which is part of the route into Warrap.
County Commissioner John Arop Apai explained that the initiative will help reduce high prices affecting markets in the state.
Photos: A section of the Rumbek-Mvolo-Lado road (WFP/Richard Taban)