Residents of Yei River County in Central Equatoria State have accused traders of hiking prices in the markets after South Sudan closed its border with Uganda.

South Sudan imports almost everything from neighboring countries.

Bako Selwa, a buyer at Dar es Salam market, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday she was shocked to find a sachet of salt being sold at 200 SSP, while the price of a bar of soap increased from 150 SSP to 180 SSP.

She urged authorities to put in place consumer protection measures.

For his part, Hassan Abdalla, a retail trader in the same market, confirmed that the prices have started shooting up following closure of the two country’s common border.

“The recent changes in the market prices are because of fear over the closure of the border. We are not supposed to increase market prices, but we are afraid. We appeal to the government to open roads for traders bringing goods from Uganda,” Abdulla explained.

Sarah Faida, a trader in mixed commodities, attributed the rise in prices to recent confirmed cases of coronavirus in neighboring Uganda.

“A basin of onions that used to be at 5,000 SSP is now 6,000 SSP and we are sure of more increase in coming weeks. Our message to the government is to allow goods to be brought to Yei town,” she stressed.

Edward Lugala, the Chamber of Commerce chairperson in Yei, cautioned traders against taking advantage of the novel coronavirus outbreak to increase prices of goods.

South Sudan’s government on Monday closed all airports and land crossings over fears about the spread of coronavirus.