(JUBA CITY) – A wide ranging recovery plan is taking shape after a destructive fire at Juba’s Custom Market left thousands of traders without income at the peak of the festive shopping season. City and state authorities say discussions are ongoing to prepare a structured support programme, although details on the type of assistance or its timeline are still unclear.
Juba City Mayor Christopher Sarafino Wani confirmed the plans after meeting Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony. He said both offices were examining immediate, medium and long term options to help traders resume business activity and minimise further social and economic hardship.
According to the Mayor, the response will come in three stages. The immediate phase will focus on restoring traders’ basic ability to operate, while the medium and long term phases will consider wider market planning and how best to rebuild more stable commercial spaces. He said the City Council, State Government and the Chamber of Commerce are reviewing available options.
Mayor Wani said he and the Governor had shared a variety of ideas on how affected traders might be supported, but he did not indicate when the first assistance would reach those who lost property. He stressed that the aim is to restore normal market operations as soon as possible.
Governor Adil also held discussions with Mubarak Mahgoub Musa, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sudan in South Sudan, as the fire affected both South Sudanese and Sudanese traders. Mubarak thanked the state government for its attention to the crisis and said both sides had spoken about future safety measures, including the idea of safer market zones.
The Governor promised further meetings to look into tax challenges facing Sudanese traders, noting that additional burdens should not worsen the losses they have suffered. Mubarak called on the state government to develop plans that would encourage skilled Sudanese professionals already based in Juba, such as engineers and doctors, to stay and invest in the city.
Traders Describe Severe Losses and Social Impact
The fire, which swept through Custom Market earlier in the week, destroyed more than 3,000 shops. Witnesses said the flames moved quickly through the tightly packed structures made of timber, zinc, plastic and other flammable materials. Most stalls had been heavily stocked for December sales, resulting in losses traders describe as the worst in years.
Women form the majority of the market’s workforce, and many say they are now left with no income to support their families. Market leaders say the impact on widows and single mothers is especially severe, with many struggling to cover basic needs such as food, rent and school fees.
Some traders estimate that combined losses could reach trillions of South Sudanese Pounds.
One trader, Abdu, said he lost about US$ 8,000 in existing stock and an additional US$ 3,500 worth of goods purchased for Christmas, putting his total loss at US$ 11,500. In South Sudanese Pounds, this equals more than 81.6 million SSP.
For widows like Sartin Keji, the losses cannot yet be fully calculated. She said she relied entirely on her business to raise her four children after her husband’s death and now has no means to restart. Another trader, Teresa John, said she had survived several past market fires but described the latest incident as overwhelming, with no money left for rent, food or school expenses.
Younger traders were also affected. Neema Knight, who started working in 2016, said she lost her sewing machine, her only source of income. She appealed for basic tools to return to work, saying she had not slept since the incident.
For others, the fire saved their lives only because they avoided entering burning structures. Jane Kiden, a widow with children, said she restrained herself from attempting to save her stock because she feared leaving her children without a parent.
Chambers of Commerce Begin Assessments
The Central Equatoria Chamber of Commerce and the national Chamber of Commerce have begun registering those affected. Chamber leaders say accurate records are essential to brief authorities and identify possible forms of assistance. They called on humanitarian organisations to prioritise vulnerable households, especially widows.
National Chamber Chairperson Losidik Lado Lukak Legge said the fire affects not just traders but the wider economy. He said the Chamber will present its findings to the Juba City Council, the Governor and national officials.
Custom Market’s Chamber head, Charles Laku Joseph, pointed to structural problems inside the market that prevented emergency vehicles from reaching the fire. He said access routes had long been blocked by temporary structures and urged the City Council to prioritise opening roads to avoid a repeat of such incidents.
Market Design and Safety Remain Ongoing Risks
The fire has renewed debate about the design of urban markets in South Sudan. Many markets across the country are built with flammable materials, tightly packed stalls and narrow pathways, making them vulnerable to quick spreading fires. Traders say congestion and blocked roads have made Custom Market particularly unsafe.
The losses have pushed thousands of families into sudden financial difficulty as the festive season approaches. With limited savings and high living costs in Juba, many traders say they urgently need direct support to begin rebuilding.
Authorities say more information on support measures will be released after assessments are completed, but traders continue to call for rapid action to prevent the crisis from deepening.
