South Sudan markets in Juba reopen after abrupt closure

[Elisabeth Janaina]

South Sudan markets in Juba reopen after abrupt closure

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October 13, 2016 (JUBA) - Shop owners in South Sudan’s capital, Juba,
have resumed work following an abrupt closure on Wednesday, following
false reports of Salva Kiir’s death on the social media.

JPEG - 26.9 kb
People walk through a market in the southern Sudanese city of Juba
January 7, 2011 in Juba - (File photo AFP/Getty)

Interior Minister Michael Chienyjiek issued a statement dismissing the
allegation, describing them as rumours circulated by "criminals to use
it as the opportunity to loot.

“Stay calm, and carry on normally. There should no fear. The president
had already come out yesterday and you saw him touring the whole town
yesterday. This was to confirm to the public that he is alive. What
happened was another social media hoax”, said Chienyjiek

He commended various markets in Juba which resumed activities on
Wednesday evening after few hours of abrupt closure. Traders and
hawkers who had run away from custom market have resumed since 5.00 PM
local time yesterday and were selling their goods normally.

Several markets such as Konyokonyo, Jebel and Juba markets have also
resumed operation according to sources. Many residents claimed the run
from market on Wednesday after some running without asking the cause.
Others attributed the cause to a crackdown on money exchangers by the
police.

“I have resumed work normally today. Yesterday my shop was closed
because there was confusion allover. Some people were running
unnecessarily. If you ask, no one would give a definite answer, Deng
Mawien, a trader in Malakia market told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

But while others were running due to fear stemming from rumours about
the death of the president, others were running away from police
measures banning money changers on the street in fulfillment of
municipality order.

Police force launched an operation to crack down on U.S. dollar
hawkers, causing them to flee the market. No gun shot was fired by the
police when the police carried out the operation.

Earlier this year, Mayor of Juba City banned selling of U.S. dollars
on the street of Juba, and ordered the police to crackdown on those
selling dollars. Armed robbers attacked Konyokonyo market

SPLA Spokesperson Brig. Gen Lul Ruai Koang told journalists that
people in Konyokonyo market fled when armed robbers attacked and
robbed at gun point leading to the closure of the market yesterday,

He said that 3 robbers entered the market and started terrorizing
people using pistols. Two of the robbers were apprehended and 1 is
still at large. The two robbers, he said were later found to be
foreign nationals.

(ST)

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Kind regards,

The Sudan Tribune editorial team.

14 October 04:16, by Augustino

Hi common, Sudan Tribune, what is wrong with you people, our
Information Minister Hon. Micheal Makuei Lueth is not called
(Chienyjiek) where did you get this confusing Chinese name from. You
are contributing to current situation confusion in the country too.
Your editors must make thorough review before posting important
information.