(MALAKAL, UPPER NILE STATE) – Residents of Upper Nile State are struggling with sharp increases in food and fuel prices as trade disruptions, checkpoints, and insecurity continue to drive up living costs.
According to Peter Ngwojo Akwiny, the State Minister of Information, food prices have reached record highs, making it increasingly difficult for families to afford daily meals. “Citizens currently cannot afford food,” he said. “A single onion now sells for 5,000 South Sudanese Pounds (about 70 US cents), and that is not enough to cook even one meal.”
Fuel prices have also surged to 20,000 South Sudanese Pounds per litre (around 2.82 US dollars), limiting transport and worsening the cost of moving goods across the state.
The crisis reflects wider economic pressures across South Sudan, worsened by the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, which has disrupted traditional trade routes. Upper Nile State once relied heavily on imports from Sudan, but those supplies have been cut off since the war began.
The situation has become even more severe with the arrival of returnees and refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan. Many have settled in Renk County, which borders Sudan, adding pressure to limited food and fuel supplies.
Minister Akwiny said the depreciation of the local currency has made the problem worse, as traders are forced to adjust prices based on rising dollar exchange rates. With imports from Sudan restricted, many traders now depend on Ethiopia through river transport.
However, this route is also facing major challenges. The Boat Union Association in South Sudan (BUA) reports that more than 80 unauthorised checkpoints have been established along the Nile River, where local groups impose high fees on traders. These charges are passed on to consumers through higher prices, leaving traders with little or no profit.
| Key Commodity Prices – November 2025 (Upper Nile State) | Local Price (SSP) | Equivalent in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Onion (1 piece) | 5,000 SSP | $0.70 |
| Fuel (1 litre) | 20,000 SSP | $2.82 |
| Exchange rate | 7,100 SSP = $1 | — |
Before renewed violence in parts of Upper Nile, traders imported goods from Ethiopia through the Sobat River in just three days. But fighting in Nasir County has made that route unsafe and largely impassable.
The conflict has displaced many residents from Nasir to Malakal, increasing demand for food in the state capital. “People in Malakal are now desperate for food to save their families,” Minister Akwiny said. He noted that internally displaced persons (IDPs) are the most affected, as they lack income and have limited access to aid.
Economic analysts in Juba say the crisis in Upper Nile highlights how insecurity and illegal taxes along trade routes continue to undermine South Sudan’s economic recovery. They warn that without stronger border management, trade facilitation, and fuel price regulation, the situation may worsen further in the coming months.
For now, the government is engaging with local authorities and the Boat Union to address illegal checkpoints and ensure that goods can reach markets more smoothly. But with insecurity persisting and exchange rates fluctuating, many families in Upper Nile continue to face daily hardship.