Rising Death Toll In Juba As South Sudanese Economy Collapses:

March 13, 2015(Nyamilepedia) — The reported death toll in South Sudan capital, Juba, this week has hit a record high as economy collapses.

Unlike earlier death incidents, which are believed to have been politically motivated, this week assassinations bear financial frustrations and grudges, as eye witnesses explain.

On Wednesday this week, a gunman believed to be a member of national security, walked into Meer Forex Bureau near Kenyan Commercial Bank to convert his huge bills of South Sudan Pounds into American Dollars.

However, at intervention of bank director, the gunman was denied hard currency he demanded.

According to eye witnesses, the gunman shot the Forex director and a woman on the queue, before shooting himself on the head.

The incident is believed to have connections with depreciation of South Sudan Pound in the black market.

This week, South Sudanese Pound has depreciated to 7.2 SSP against $1 US dollar at the booming black market in Juba. The official rates at the Central Bank, however, remain at 3.16 SSP against $1 US dollar.

According to local economists, the big gap has attracted many individuals into black market money exchange dealings, however, the unrestricted market is dominated by a few known individuals, who have connections to high ranking politicians and officials of the central bank.

In other reports, a gunman on motor bike shot dead an unarmed person, who was later identified as Dr. Sifros Duku of St Kizito Hospital, at Suklibya in Munuki area at around 7Am on Thursday

According to eye witnesses, who refused to be identified due to sensitivity of the case, Dr. Sifros was dropping off a child at a nearby school as he usually does.

The assassin, who is yet to be identified, shot Dr. Sifro at a close range before the fled the scene. Attempt to reach St. Kizito Hospital for comments has failed.

Following the collapse of peace talks in Addis Ababa, as war intensifies in Upper Nile, South Sudan witnesses a high inflation rate. Goods prices continue to rise as oil price drops in the world market.

According to Dr. Luka Biong of Juba University, the collapse of peace talks and resumption of war in various parts of the country contribute to soaring prices and depreciation of South Sudanese pound.

South Sudan relies on oil revenues and loans but due to the ongoing conflict in the oil rich states, oil fields in Unity State are shutdown by rebellion, yet the remaining oil fields in Upper Nile state are producing less than half of their regular capacity.

Due to the falling oil prices in the world market, Juba receives very little returns from the oil as Sudan and China collect the proceedings for their pipelines, other installations and wages.