Cecilia John Akile – Voice of Hope Radio, Wau
Wau, Western Bahr El Ghazal – Several residents and motorists in Wau town are voicing their frustration over the recent surge in fuel prices, which has significantly impacted the transport sector and daily livelihoods.
Speaking to Voice of Hope Radio, many residents, including boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) riders, expressed confusion and anger over the sudden price hikes. The price of a liter of fuel in Wau has risen from 6,900 to 8,500 South Sudanese pounds within the past week, leaving many residents struggling to understand the cause of the sudden increase.
A boda-boda rider, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared that the rise in fuel prices has severely affected his daily earnings. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to provide for my family, and the tension with passengers has grown as fares have risen,” he explained.
Another rider highlighted the drop in passenger demand, especially for long-distance trips. “Some days, I don’t even make a single trip,” he said, reflecting the growing strain on those in the transport business.
Angelina Afo Baqari, a mother of five who sells tea at Wau’s main market, also noted the negative impact of the fuel price hike on her daily operations. “It’s harder now to travel to work, and some days I don’t have enough customers to cover my costs,” she said.
Residents have also voiced concerns over the repeated price increases, questioning how such hikes could occur twice within the same week without proper explanation from the authorities. One resident accused the government of failing to stabilize the market and hold responsible parties accountable.
Boda-boda riders express frustration with the fuel price hike and its impact on their daily work.
In an attempt to get more clarity, Voice of Hope Radio reached out to fuel station owners, but many refrained from commenting. Some suggested that the price increase was linked to new taxes imposed by the national government.
Wol Charles Aleu, the Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce in Western Bahr el Ghazal, confirmed that the recent fuel price hike was a result of increased taxes, which had also caused a backlog of vehicles at the Nimule border with Uganda. “We had a meeting last Thursday with fuel station owners and the Ministry of Trade, and the new taxes are directly contributing to this price rise,” Aleu explained.
Wol Charles Aleu discusses the reasons behind the fuel price increase and the government’s efforts to monitor stations.
Aleu assured residents that security organs would be monitoring fuel stations to ensure compliance with the agreed-upon prices. Despite this, many citizens continue to suffer from the high cost of living and the continuing instability in the market.