(NAIROBI) – South Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Anthony Kon, on Wednesday held a meeting with freight logistics firms operating in Mombasa, seeking to improve the speed and cost of moving goods to South Sudan through the Port of Mombasa.
The meeting took place on 3 July 2025 in Nairobi and focused on streamlining trade routes for South Sudan, which remains heavily reliant on Kenya’s maritime and logistics infrastructure.
The consultative session brought together several key players in container freight services, including Compact Freight Systems Ltd, LPC Global Logistics Ltd, Precision Container Freight Station and Compact FTZ Ltd. Development. These companies are among the leading firms responsible for handling cargo destined for South Sudan.
Ambassador Kon was briefed on the current challenges experienced during the handling, storage and transportation of cargo through Kenya. The companies shared insights into processing times and highlighted delays that lead to rising costs for importers.
The South Sudanese envoy noted that as a landlocked country, South Sudan depends on efficient port and freight operations from Kenya to manage the bulk of its trade, especially through Mombasa, which serves as the country’s main access point to international markets.
One of the main concerns raised during the meeting was the steep cost of doing business for South Sudanese importers. These costs include shipping line charges and demurrage fees (penalties charged for holding cargo containers beyond allowed time frames) mainly caused by delays at freight stations. These fees, when accumulated, significantly inflate the final price of goods in South Sudanese markets.
Ambassador Kon acknowledged these challenges and urged all logistics stakeholders to improve cargo flow, reduce clearance time and eliminate inefficiencies that often lead to extra fees. He stressed that importers and traders in South Sudan should not bear the burden of delays caused by logistics bottlenecks.
He also reaffirmed the Embassy’s support for ongoing efforts to foster cooperation between Kenyan freight operators and South Sudanese importers. Kon emphasised the importance of enhancing cross border logistics coordination, improving cargo tracking and building trust among all stakeholders.
The Nairobi engagement comes at a time when regional trade remains critical to South Sudan’s economic recovery. The country has been working to reduce its reliance on expensive air freight and informal border trade routes, which often involve multiple intermediaries and expose goods to higher risks and cost uncertainty.
Kenya remains South Sudan’s largest trade conduit and the Mombasa port handles a significant volume of Juba’s imports, from fuel and construction materials to food and household items. Improving this trade corridor is crucial to lowering commodity prices in South Sudan and ensuring reliable supply chains.
The Ambassador concluded the meeting by calling for continuous dialogue and promised to escalate the freight operators’ concerns to relevant government departments in both countries. He said the Embassy would remain engaged in policy discussions.
