“No foreigner shall engage in retail business,” Juba commissioner warns

The Caretaker Commissioner of Juba County, Kalisto Lado, says foreign nationals should not engage in retail business in the county.

Lado says retail businesses should be reserved for South Sudanese nationals, while foreign nationals should focus on wholesale businesses.

He says foreign nationals should not engage in retail activities such as selling food items or operating motorbikes commonly known as boda boda.

“No foreigner shall engage in retail business in Juba County. Someone cannot come from their own country to sell onions, chapati, and tomatoes. What will our women sell? This must stop,” Ladu said during an inspection to Kubri Haboba Market on Monday.

Lado questioned what opportunities would remain for South Sudanese youth if foreign nationals continued to operate small businesses.

He urged foreign business owners in Juba to cooperate with county authorities, assuring them of the necessary security.

“A foreigner wants to sell charcoal or operate a motorbike business, commonly known as boda boda, what will our youth do? If you are a foreigner and want to do business, open a company. To all foreign business communities in Juba, we welcome you and will provide security. However, retail business should be reserved for South Sudanese. If you are a foreigner and want to do business, focus on wholesale,” he said.

Juba City, which also serves as the headquarters of Juba County, has a large number of foreign nationals engaged in formal and informal businesses in the country.