S. Sudanese Pound further weakens against U.S. dollar
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January 07, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s local currency (SSP) further
weakened, in the first week of January, against the U.S. dollar ($)
indicating the deteriorating economic situation in the oil-dependent
country.
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Women carrying babies are commonly seen queuing at commercial banks
and forex exchange companies in Juba. Trade in dollars has now become
a lucrative business in South Sudan (ST/File)
On Friday, a 1$S sold for 105 SSP, which showed a significant surge
from the $1 sold at 90 SSP late last year.
A number of traders Sudan Tribune interviewed attributed weakening of
the SSP to increased demands from families abroad and the scarcity of
hard currencies.
"People are sending more [U.S] dollars to their families in Uganda and
Kenya and this has place a huge pressure on the black market and
currency traders are maximizing their profits," said John Ladu, a
trader dealing in money exchange in the South Sudan capital, Juba.
Maker Majok, another trader, concurs with Ladu’s views.
"I have received more than ten phone calls since morning from my
clients who are asking me to reserve them some dollars so that they
can send to their families for school fees and house rental charges,"
said Majok.
South Sudan depends on export of crude oil for hard currency, but
production has declined substantially since conflict erupted three
years ago. The continuous decline in oil prices in global markets has
further reduced monthly revenues for the young nation.
In December 2015, the ministry of finance and central bank of South
Sudan floated fixed exchange rate of dollars against South Sudan from
$1 to 2.96 SSP in the central bank to $1 for 18 SSP in the black
market at the time.
The rate has doubled several times, prompting a surge in commodities prices.
The recent weakening of SSP against the dollar, experts say, could
also be attributed to high spending during Christmas and End of the
Year shopping and lack of auctioning for dollars by South Sudan’s
Central Bank.
(ST)
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