A High-Profile Walkthrough
Governor General Sheriff Daniel Sheriff stepped into Jaw Market this week, greeting butchers and grocers whose goods feed most of Western Bahr el Ghazal. His first inspection of the hub drew cabinet officials and security officers, underscoring the market’s economic weight.
Import Costs and Layered Taxes
Local chamber chairman Wol Charles Aleu explained that nearly all staples roll in from neighbouring states, gathering levies along each checkpoint. By arrival, multiple tariffs have already piled onto flour, sugar and fuel, inflating shelf prices before municipal dues add more.
Traders Voice Daily Strain
Vendor Makungu Edward described price swings that unsettle household budgets: vegetables dip after harvests, yet meat and sugar stay steep. Fellow trader Viviana Peter linked soaring costs to impassable roads and sporadic insecurity that slow trucks and raise transport fees.
Municipality Highlights Market Role
Mayor Joseph John Andrea called Jaw the region’s biggest supply artery, praising merchants for cooperating on cleanliness and order. He signalled that steady dialogue with the chamber of commerce can ease friction over street levies and licensing procedures.
Government Pledges Next Steps
“We will secure the routes so you can farm and trade,” the governor assured while noting plans to boost local crop output. Officials say security patrols and farm-input support could lower dependence on imports and help stabilise prices over the coming seasons.