By James Innocent
Youth leaders and business representatives in Yei River County have raised concerns over the sharp increase in fuel prices, warning that the situation is severely affecting young people who depend on motorcycle transport and small-scale businesses for survival.
Speaking in Yei, youth leader Gaga Frank said the rise in fuel prices has disrupted the livelihoods of many young motorists who rely on commercial motorcycle riding to earn a daily income.
He noted that most youth in the town survive by transporting passengers on motorcycles, but the increasing fuel costs are making it difficult for them to continue operating profitably.
Frank encouraged young people to remain resilient despite the economic hardships, urging them to explore alternative means of survival and remain hopeful that market conditions may improve in the future.
He also emphasised agriculture as a sustainable solution for youth in Yei, calling on young people to engage in farming and other productive activities to support their families and communities.
Meanwhile, a local motorcyclist, Karaba Lawrence, accused some fuel station operators of temporarily closing their businesses in anticipation of increasing pump prices from 13,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) to 15,000 SSP per liter.
Lawrence said the increase has placed an additional burden on transport operators and ordinary residents who depend on motorcycles for movement within the town.
The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in Yei River County, Justin Luwate Raphael, confirmed that fuel prices had significantly increased, warning that the development is likely to trigger a rise in market prices due to higher transportation costs.
Raphael further called on the national government to regulate what he described as excessive taxation imposed on goods transported along major roads, arguing that such charges contribute to the rising cost of living and negatively affect citizens across the country.