South Sudan: Chapati, tomatoes, charcoal; Juba wants to take back small businesses from foreigners

In Juba, small businesses run by foreigners are now being targeted by local authorities. The acting commissioner of Juba County, Kalisto Lado, has asked foreign nationals to leave low-capital retail activities to South Sudanese citizens.

The measure specifically targets chapati stalls, the sale of tomatoes, onions, and charcoal, as well as boda-boda services. Ugandan, Kenyan, Eritrean, and Burundian traders are among the communities directly affected.

Kalisto Lado believes these small-scale jobs should benefit South Sudanese women and youth more. Foreigners wishing to continue investing are encouraged to focus on wholesale trade, importing, starting businesses, or manufacturing.

Clarification is important. Contrary to some reports circulating on social media, the authorities in Juba have not asked foreigners to leave the country. The commissioner himself denied giving them a seven-day deadline to depart. He maintains that foreign nationals remain free to conduct business, provided they respect the applicable sectors and regulations.

The decision comes as foreign traders play a significant role in the capital's informal economy. Ugandans are particularly prevalent in grocery stores, restaurants, motorcycle taxis, salons, and auto repair shops. The new directive could therefore significantly impact their businesses in Juba.

In Juba, the issue goes beyond mere street commerce. It raises the question of the place of foreign nationals in the South Sudanese economy, at a time when the country is seeking to give more space to local entrepreneurs while continuing to attract foreign investment.

Yolande Bazié