Sorghum traders in Aweil say they have closed their businesses following orders from the Aweil East municipality to reduce their prices.
Aweil has seen crippling hunger rates because the high cost of food and reduced income.
Traders say the order, from the municipality council, has affected their businesses, and they buy sorghum at higher price than they are forced to sell. Traders tell Radio Tamazuj that one gallon of sorghum went from 130 SSP to 80 SSP under the price fixing.
“We stopped working simply because the price the mayor was proposing was only favoring consumers and we don’t get anything,” one trader told Radio Tamazuj on the condition of anonymity.
Mayor Teresa Abak told Radio Tamazuj that the move aims to help locals afford food in the market.
“These order are not from me but are from the state” said Abak.
The mayor has said that the orders apply to all traders across the state, adding that all sorghums sold must adhere to local orders.