(JUBA) – The South Sudanese pound continues to face pressure in the parallel market, where the United States dollar is trading at around SSP 6,800 to SSP 7,000, far above the Bank of South Sudan’s official rate of SSP 4,656.21 for selling and SSP 4,518.59 for buying.
This growing gap highlights the struggle businesses and households face as the parallel market has become the main source of foreign exchange. Importers and traders say they cannot access hard currency at the official rate and must rely on the street market, where the cost of dollars is significantly higher.
At the parallel market rate of SSP 7,000 per dollar, this means that one official dollar at SSP 4,656 carries a premium of more than 50 percent.
| Dollar Rates (22 Sept 2025) | SSP | Approx USD Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Official Selling Rate | 4,656 | $0.66 per SSP 1,000 |
| Official Buying Rate | 4,518 | $0.64 per SSP 1,000 |
| Parallel Market Rate | 6,800 – 7,000 | $0.96 – $0.99 per SSP 1,000 |
The Bank of South Sudan maintains that its official rate remains the reference for government and commercial transactions. However, even recent central bank auctions of foreign currency have been conducted at rates 1,000 to 1,100 SSP higher than the published figure, suggesting the market realities are beginning to influence official transactions.
Other major currencies such as the euro and pound sterling show similar disparities. While the euro is officially valued at SSP 5,476, traders report paying nearly SSP 8,000 in the parallel market.
Official vs Parallel Market Exchange Rates – 22 September 2025
| Currency | Official Selling (SSP) | Official Buying (SSP) | Parallel Market (SSP) | USD Equivalent (Parallel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 4,656.21 | 4,518.59 | 6,800 – 7,000 | $1.00 |
| EURO | 5,476.17 | 5,133.41 | 7,800 – 8,000 | ≈ $1.10 – $1.13 |
| GBP | 6,285.89 | 6,099.19 | 8,800 – 9,000 | ≈ $1.24 – $1.27 |
| KSH | 36.12 | 34.92 | 50 – 52 | ≈ $0.007 |
| UGX | 1.34 | 1.27 | 1.9 – 2.0 | <$0.001 |
| SDG | 7.79 | 7.47 | 11 – 12 | ≈ $0.0017 |
| ETB | 32.40 | 31.44 | 45 – 47 | ≈ $0.0064 – $0.0066 |
| RWF | 3.22 | 3.07 | 4.7 – 5.0 | ≈ $0.0007 |
| TZS | 1.88 | 1.83 | 2.7 – 2.8 | ≈ $0.0004 |
| BIF | 1.59 | 1.52 | 2.3 – 2.4 | ≈ $0.00034 |
The gap between the official and parallel markets is fuelling inflationary pressure as importers set prices based on the higher street rate. This has been particularly evident in the cost of fuel, imported food and construction materials.
For businesses and households, the parallel rate has become the real benchmark for financial planning. Analysts warn that unless the central bank narrows the gap, confidence in the official rate will continue to weaken.
Disclaimer
Parallel market rates are much higher than official central bank rates, with premiums of up to SSP 2,500 per dollar. Even the central bank’s September auctions cleared at rates up to SSP 1,100 higher than the official rate. Approximate forex rates on the parallel market are provided for context only. This report is not financial advice. Jakony.com® is not a financial advisory service.