During a joint meeting between the state government and the Chamber of Commerce in Yambio, business representatives expressed deep frustration with worsening economic conditions, warning of a collapse in local trade if immediate interventions are not made.
“We moved as an economic cluster to assess the situation in Yambio market,” said Salah Badagbu, Acting Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce. “Traders are struggling under high taxes imposed by previous authorities, deteriorating roads, and the skyrocketing dollar rate.”
Currently, the parallel market exchange rate in Yambio stands at SSP 5,900 per USD, significantly higher than the Bank of South Sudan’s official rate of SSP 4,564 (sell) and SSP 4,429 (buy). This disparity is placing imported goods far beyond the reach of most citizens.
“Our businesses are suffering, and the community is bearing the brunt,” Badagbu added. “We urge the state government to review and reduce these high taxes.”
Local business owners echoed these sentiments. Rose James, a pharmacist in Yambio, highlighted the rising transportation costs from Juba as a major hurdle.
“Prices are already high in Juba, and when combined with taxes in Yambio, it becomes unbearable,” she said. “If we try to sell at affordable prices, we incur losses.”
Mohamed Ahmed, a Sudanese trader, said that essential items like sugar and cooking oil are now priced out of reach for many families.
“A 25kg bag of sugar is selling at SSP 25,600, while a 20-litre jerrycan of cooking oil costs SSP 17,600,” he said. “These prices are devastating for our customers.”
For Victoria Kango, a food vendor, cross-border taxes are another major concern.
“We rely heavily on goods from DRC, but women traders face double taxation at the Nabiapai border,” she said. “It’s threatening our livelihoods.”
Wilson Ragoyo, another trader, described the situation as dire.
“The taxes are too much—it’s like killing both the people and our businesses,” he lamented. “With the roads in such poor condition, we are really suffering.”
In response, State Minister of Trade and Industry, Haim Ezaya Paul, acknowledged the severity of the crisis.
“We have heard from the traders,” he said. “The dollar rate, poor roads, and high taxation are serious issues. While foreign exchange is regulated by the national government in Juba, we at the state level will work to review the tax system and improve road infrastructure.”
Minister Ezaya pledged to convene stakeholders and explore practical solutions to ease the economic burden on local traders and communities.
“We are committed to finding ways to support business and protect livelihoods,” he concluded.
As Western Equatoria grapples with these interconnected challenges, the call from the trading community is clear: Without urgent reforms and infrastructure investment, the cost of survival will only rise.
