Mombasa Port: Lifeline for South Sudan Cargo
For land-locked South Sudan, Kenya’s Mombasa Port remains the shortest salt-water doorway to world markets. Nearly ten percent of the hub’s transit volume—about 1.1 million tonnes a year—heads north to Juba, second only to Uganda in traffic share (Business Daily).
Foodstuffs, beverages and light manufactures dominate the consignments, illustrating how the port underpins South Sudanese consumer supply chains.
Price Tag Pain: The US$5,000 Container Fee
Juba contends that a mandatory US$5,000 deposit per container—levied to guarantee return of empty boxes—distorts costs and discourages scale economies.
South Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya, Anthony Kon, told reporters that some traders now abandon freight at Mombasa rather than raise additional capital for the charge (Business Daily).
Diplomatic Channels Seek Cost Relief
Officials from both governments and the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority met last week in Nairobi to explore softer guarantees, including insurance bonds, that could replace hefty deposits.
“We aim to streamline procedures without compromising port efficiency,” said John Deng, the Authority’s executive secretary, signalling optimism for a negotiated middle ground.
Potential Ripple Effects on Great Lakes Trade
Lower fees could reverberate beyond South Sudan, trimming logistics costs for eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, all of which share Mombasa’s corridor.
Kenyan shippers, meanwhile, hope that smoother traffic will boost port throughput and cement Mombasa’s competitiveness against Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam harbour.
Next Steps for Regional Logistics
Negotiators plan another session in July; if agreement emerges, traders could see revised charges before year-end, offering a timely stimulus to Juba’s post-conflict recovery aspirations.
Observers caution that any tariff shift must be matched by reliable infrastructure and security along the corridor to translate savings into tangible growth.