Displaced women prepare a meal in an IDP camp in South Sudan | File photo

Women who sell food at Wanyjok market in Aweil East County say the new closing time of the market is hurting their business.

Last month, Aweil East County authorities changed the closing time of the market from midnight to 7pm because of the increase in robberies at night.

The traders say some of them have been beaten by the police for keeping their stalls open after 7pm in the evening.

Most of the women are either returnees or widows.

Abuk Adub, one of the local women who works in the market says the women are not rejecting the new rule but they need to keep their stalls opens later for their business.

However, one of the police officers at Wanyjok market, Rieu Deng Aluong, says the order limits movement of people in the market at night:

“I have asked some of these people whether they used to sell their goods at the market beyond 7pm when they were in Khartoum, and they told me, ‘No.’

“So, I am wondering, is it because they ignore the orders of the government or what? People work at daytime, and people buy goods from the market at daytime, no business is done at night.”

Officer Deng added that the curfew will continue as a measure to control theft.