Bor residents take to streets over delayed salaries, rising cost of living

JUBA – Residents of Bor, the capital of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, staged a protest on Monday demanding payment of salary arrears for civil servants and members of organized forces, and expressing frustration over the soaring cost of living.

“We have one demand,” said a protester who spoke to Sudans Post. “The government hasn’t paid civil servants and the organized forces for months. This is becoming unbearable. Life has become much harder since independence due to high prices, and we can’t take it anymore.”

The organized forces, which include the army, police, and other security personnel, are a vital source of income for many South Sudanese families. Delays in their salaries can have a devastating impact on household finances.

Another protester, who requested anonymity fearing reprisal, said the delayed salaries were worsening existing hardships.

“The problems are twofold: delayed salaries and skyrocketing prices of basic goods. Even if they pay us, it won’t be enough to buy anything more than biscuits for the children,” he said.

The protest follows a similar demonstration held in Bor last week, where residents voiced concerns about rising food and commodity prices, as well as the burden of high taxes on small businesses.

The Jonglei state government has not yet commented on the protests.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar in December 2013 ignited ethnic violence. This plunged the country into a civil war that displaced millions and devastated the economy.

South Sudan relies heavily on oil revenue, but production has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict in Sudan, leading to a severe foreign currency shortage, hindering essential goods imports, and driving up inflation.

Rampant corruption has further crippled the economy, diverting resources away from development and essential services.

After years of fighting, a power-sharing agreement (R-ARCSS) was signed in 2018 to end the conflict, establish a unity government, and reform the security sector.

While some power-sharing arrangements have been implemented, progress on key issues like security sector reforms and constitutional development remains slow. This lack of progress fuels frustration and undermines trust in the peace process.