ECONOMIC BRIEF, May 5, 2016
South Sudan peace deal is set to boost trade between Kenya and the world’s newest nation.
According to Kenya Port Authority (KPA) the signing of peace deal between President Kiir and opposition leader Machar is expected to open up trade opportunities between Kenya and South Sudan.
KPA acting Managing Director Catherine Mturi, South Sudan is expected to ship volumes of cargo through the port of Mombasa.
In 2015 South Sudan cargo shipment through the port of Mombasa dropped 7.7 percent as compared to 2014.
A total of 702,531 tonnes passed through the port of Mombasa in 2014-2015 were destined South Sudan.
However, KPA says Uganda remains the second biggest user of the Mombasa port with 11 percent share. Uganda shipment increased from 5.5 million tonnes to 5.9 tonnes in 2014.
Once peace and stability returns to South Sudan, shipment through the port expected to increase by 10 percent.
After long wait and months of violence in South Sudan, Machar in the last week of April 2016 was inaugurated as vice president by President Salva Kiir ahead of forming a unity government.
