Unity State residents grapple with soaring commodity prices

BENTIU, NOV. 8, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Residents of Unity State in South Sudan are expressing growing concerns over the sharp increase in prices of essential goods, attributing the surge to the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Bentiu residents, speaking to Sudans Post on Wednesday, voiced their struggles in coping with the escalating prices, which have doubled in the past month. They urged the state government to intervene and alleviate their plight before the situation spirals into insecurity.

Rhoda Gatkek, an internally displaced person (IDP) from Bentiu, highlighted the drastic price hikes, citing examples of sugar now costing 8,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per kilogram, maize flour at 7,000 SSP per kilogram, goat meat at 12,000 SSP per kilogram, and cooking oil at 4,000 SSP per liter.

Rhoda contrasted the current prices with those from just two months ago, when sugar was 1,500 SSP per kilogram, maize flour was 1,400 SSP per kilogram, beef was 1,000 SSP per kilogram, and cooking oil was 2,000 SSP per liter.

“I’m still wondering what my state government is doing about this matter,” she lamented. “I have nothing to say to traders because Unity State has no road access to Juba, the capital of South Sudan.”

Jal Juach Teny, another Bentiu IDP camp resident, echoed Rhoda’s concerns, emphasizing the financial strain caused by the price surge.

“I don’t have enough money to buy expensive commodities. I don’t have a job to support my family,” Teny explained.

Teny further underscored the hardships faced by those without employment in Unity State. He drew parallels with the Sudan conflict, when the road from Bentiu to Sudan was blocked, exacerbating the situation in Bentiu IDP camps and the wider town.

“I’m requesting the Unity State government to reconstruct the road from Mayom County to Juba. This will help reduce commodity prices,” Teny urged.

Abdugazi Suliman, a trader in Rubkona market, attributed the price hikes to the lack of proper roads for transporting goods from Juba to Bentiu.

“We are appealing to the Unity State government to construct the road from here to Juba. The prices were better last month than they are today,” Suliman stated.

The impact of soaring prices extends beyond Bentiu, reaching Leer County as well. Nyamal Dang, a tea seller in Leer County, reported that the price increase has disrupted her business.

“I used to sell tea in Leer market, but my business has been affected by the price of sugar,” Dang explained. “I used to buy a kilogram of sugar for 600 SSP, but now it has increased.”

Dang detailed the prices of her beverages, stating that a cup of tea costs 200 SSP, a cup of coffee costs 350 SSP, and a cup of milk tea costs 400 SSP. She emphasized that her profits have dwindled significantly due to the rising sugar price.