News from Larry Duffee in Juba

We just returned to Juba on Saturday having spent the last week in Yei. We were in Yei conducting a conference between bishops of the Roman Catholic Church of Sudan and the ECS. In addition to the Archbishops of both churches, Archbishop Paulino Lukudu and Archbishop Daniel Deng, there were about half-dozen or so bishops from each church in attendance. Also present was the Archbishop of York from the Church of England, the Most Rev. Dr. John Sentamu. It was an interesting experience for me to be in the presence of three Archbishops, and the conference was a very good example of ecumenical dialogue.

Living conditions in Juba are becoming increasingly difficult. As the oil-pipeline crisis between Sudan and South Sudan continues to cripple the economies of both countries the value of the pound versus the US dollar is deteriorating markedly. For most of the past year the rate has been fairly stable at around 350-South Sudanese pounds per $100-US dollars.  But since the crisis in Heglig brought matters between the north and the south to a head the value of the pound has dropped to where people are now getting upwards of 480-500-ssp or more for $100. While this sounds wonderful for holders of US dollars, one must also bear in mind that there has been a commensurate increase in the prices of goods and services in the marketplace.  A bag of flour which cost around 7-ssp a month ago now costs 15-ssp or more. Whereas for the past year 1-ssp would bring me four pieces of bread now I receive only three, and for a brief moment only two pieces. As a westerner I am somewhat better able to handle these increases, but for the majority of Southerners these increases are devastating and people are complaining of having to go hungry because they cannot afford to buy as much food as before. Food is present in marketplace, but people are unable to buy it. The only solace for people has been the rumors that the exchange rate for dollars in the north is even worse and that market conditions in the north are poorer.  It is a slender, miserable reed for people here to cling to but cling to it they do with both hands.           

Perhaps the worst item to be affected has been petrol. Shortages of currency have resulted in fewer tanker-truck loads of diesel and gasoline being delivered to Juba.  Lines at the petrol stations stretch for miles and people talk of waiting hours to get even a small amount. In general, however, the price of petrol largely remains the same at 6-ssp per liter. But an insidious black-market for fuel has emerged for people unwilling to wait and who are willing to pay two to three times the regular price which causes further disruptions. The fear of many of us who think of such things is that if conditions become bad enough for ordinary people there could be civil disturbances over rising prices for food and shortages of petrol and money.

I ask all members of AFRECS to pray for conditions in Sudan and South Sudan and for wisdom and courage to be given to the leaders of both countries to help them to return to the negotiating table to peacefully resolve the many issues between the two countries.