‘Food prices, scarcity of petrol still rising’: South Kordofan citizens

Citizens of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, complain of higher prices for consumer goods, food, and of fuel shortages. Listeners reported to Radio Dabanga that sorghum rose from SDG6 to SDG12 ($1 to $2) and a kilo of sugar costs SDG7 ($1,20) from SDG6 in November 2013. Citizens pay SDG9 ($1,56) for a kilo of flour, and a pound of cooking oil costs SDG12 ($2). They revealed that the owners of vehicles are lining up in long queues for gasoline and gasoline and petrol. There is also a scarcity of bread. Citizens fear of continued high food prices, especially for sorghum which serves the area as a main food product. Traders attributed the higher prices to the rising transportation costs caused by “tough government measures”. “There are checkpoints between Khartoum and Kadugli where goods are inspected and sometimes have to be unloaded and loaded again, and fees must be paid. This delays the transportation”, a trader told. The state has imposed fees and taxes, they complained. Kadugli citizens have reported their concerns about the soaring prices before in November 2013. They attributed the high prices for essential products to the war in South Kordofan, the lift of fuel subsidies, and the poor road which connects the capital to El Obeid. File photo: Kadugli (Radio Tamazuj)