Fuel Shortage Hits Juba Town

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Boda Boda (motorcycle/bicycle taxis) operators and other motorists were frustrated because of the long queue at the Queen Petrol station due to the hundreds of vehicles flocking the area waiting for the precious commodity hence causing congestion along the Ministries Road. 

Many of the petrol stations went dry with a few of them serving diesel only. Gurtong has established that less than five fuel stations have petrol in Juba. 

While speaking to Malish Agese, a fuel attendant at Global Petrol station, the main reason for the fuel shortage is the scarcity of US dollars in circulation.

Traders have complained that Dollars have become so scarce hence raising alarm  in Juba, an effect which has seen shortage in certain commodities such as cement and general hiking of basic commodiy prices.

Agese said that his company imports fuel from Kenya which deals in stable foreign currencies especially the US dollar.

Duku Simon, a Boda Boda operator said that they have to charge their clients higher prices due to the scarcity and demand. He used to charge 7 South Sudanese Pounds for a short distance like from Customs market to Juba town but currently they charge 15 SSP.

According to the businessmen, 100 US Dollars exchange at about 430 SSP in the black market.

South Sudan is a land locked country, less than a year old without the capacity of producing most of the essential commodities at the moment and depends on its neighbours such as Uganda, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia.