South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"

By Arich Deng Anyar
The Chairperson of the Central Equatoria state Chamber of Commerce, Robert Pitia Francis, on Tuesday asked for written assurances from Juba City Council on the return of evicted traders to Juba Mall once it’s construction is complete.
“We are here because of this project, first of all the aim of this project is to enhance agricultural productivity and boost market and trade in South Sudan, the target of this project is to improve the life of women and youth who were doing business here before,” said Pitia while briefing journalists during the tour of the construction site.
He said that priority should be provided to the women and youth who were evicted from the old market in 2023. The Juba City Council authorities promised to compensate the affected traders and also give them first priority to take up shops in the mall.
“This why we are asking for letter of commitment from FAO and Juba City Council, so that after the completion of the project, the place will be handed back to the people who were doing businesses here before, and in future anyone wants to change the purpose of this project, the government will have a legal document to sue anyone that wants to take this project from these women and the youth,” said Pitia.
The Head of FAO Engineering Unit, Haya Basheer, said that the construction of the Juba mall commenced in November 2023 and should have been complete by now.
The traders were evicted in 2023 from Juba mall to pave way for the construction of a modern market.
The mall being constructed by Infinity Development Limited Company is funded by the African Development Bank and implemented by Food Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The construction of the Juba mall was halted in May 2024 due to land dispute.
In February 2022, the former Mayor of Juba City Council, Michael Ladu Allah-Jabu announced that his office had secured a $4 million grant from African Development Bank to build the first modern shopping mall in Juba town located in the former taxi park.