Juba Moves to Reserve Small Retail Trade for South Sudanese

JUBA, South Sudan — October 6, 2026

Juba County authorities have directed foreign traders to move away from small-scale retail businesses, saying activities such as selling chapati, onions, tomatoes and charcoal should be reserved for South Sudanese citizens.
Juba County Caretaker Commissioner Kalisto Lado announced the directive during a visit to Kubri Habuba on Monday. He said foreign investors remain welcome in Juba but should focus on wholesale trade, companies and larger investments that can create employment for South Sudanese.
The move could affect traders from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and other countries operating small businesses in the South Sudanese capital. Ugandan traders have already expressed concern about the announcement.

However, important implementation details remain unclear. Reports indicate that authorities have not yet explained exactly how the retail restriction will be enforced or whether existing foreign-owned businesses will receive a transition period.
The development is likely to attract attention across South Sudan’s business sector because Juba depends heavily on regional trade and imported goods from neighbouring East African countries.