Fuel prices set to fall after government reaches deal with Somali traders

Fuel prices are expected to fall across South Sudan after the government reached an agreement with the Somali business community to reduce the cost of fuel.

The announcement was made on Friday by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol, following a meeting between the Sub-Committee of the Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reforms and representatives of the Somali business community.

Under the agreement, the price of fuel is expected to drop from SSP 18,000 to SSP 14,800 per litre, with the new price taking effect from Friday night.

“The Somali community decided to lower the price of fuel, from 18 and a half and now the price of fuel dropped to 14,800 per litre. So that’s good news for the people of South Sudan, the fuel across the country will drop tonight to 14,800. Tomorrow, you will get it at the lower price,” Dr. Wek said.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Labanya Margret Mathya, said the committee has also been working with the Ministry of Petroleum to address fuel supply challenges.

She said about 200 fuel trucks are expected to enter South Sudan next week. The government believes the additional supply will help stabilise the market and further reduce fuel prices.

“According to Pacific, who are in a tripartite agreement with the Ministry of Petroleum, said that they are expecting 200 trucks of fuel by next week. And the outcome is the fact that they also reiterated that by next week we’ll be having an overflow of around 200 trucks which will come into the markets of South Sudan. We expected this to bring down the prices,” Minister Labanya said.

President Salva Kiir recently established the Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reforms to address rising living costs and other economic challenges.

The committee has been engaging business leaders and other stakeholders to stabilise prices and improve the livelihoods of South Sudanese.