JUBA – At least 200 trucks of fuel are set to reach South Sudan next week to help ease an acute fuel shortage that has pushed pump prices to approximately 20,000 South Sudanese Pounds per litre and driven up the cost of basic commodities across the country, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said.
The announcement came on Friday after a meeting of the Economic Committee Reform’s Sub-committee, which was convened to discuss urgent measures to tackle inflation and the rising cost of living. The committee is chaired by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reform, Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Margret Labanya Mathya said the fuel convoy is expected to enter South Sudan next week under an arrangement involving the Ministry of Petroleum and its private sector partners.
“The two hundred (200) trucks of fuel destined for South Sudan are expected to arrive by next week,” Labanya said, adding that the supplies are being delivered by entities operating under a tripartite agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum.
The announcement comes as motorists and businesses grapple with unprecedented fuel costs. While the government said fuel currently sells for around SSP 18,500 per litre in Juba, market prices in many parts of the country have climbed above SSP 20,000 per litre this week, forcing transport operators to raise fares and traders to pass higher costs on to consumers.
The sharp increase in fuel prices has contributed to a surge in the prices of food and other essential goods, deepening the cost-of-living crisis in a country already struggling with high inflation and a weakening local currency.
Labanya expressed confidence that the additional fuel supply would help stabilize the market.
The government did not specify where the fuel is being sourced from or how quickly it would reach filling stations after crossing into South Sudan. It also did not indicate whether additional measures would be taken to prevent shortages or curb speculation in the fuel market.
The Economic Reform Committee has been given one month under a presidential directive issued by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to recommend and implement short-term interventions aimed at addressing inflation and soaring prices.
While the expected arrival of the fuel trucks could provide temporary relief if supplies reach the market as planned, economists have previously argued that sustained price stability will require broader reforms, including improvements in foreign exchange availability, transport infrastructure and domestic fuel supply chains.
