Lakes State authorities say there is a shortage of fuel in the capital, Rumbek.

The State Minister of Health, Dr Majok Malek, says fuel can only be found from roadside sellers, which he refers to as the black market, but not at the petrol stations.

He told Eye Radio’s Sun Down program that a government team visited fuel pumps and established that there is a fuel shortage in the state.

“In all the places in Rumbek we have started to tour yesterday – to see whether there is fuel anywhere in Rumbek – but there is no fuel at all,” Dr Majok said.

“You can get fuel now in the black market and it is a little bit very expensive. In the black market, for petrol, is from 30, 35 to 40 per litter,” he said.

The state minister says the shortage of fuel is due to bad roads to Rumbek.

“Most of the trucks which are bringing the fuel, they got stuck somewhere because of bad roads,” he said.

Mr. Dhieu said the fuel trucks are stuck in Western Equatoria on their way to Rumbek.

He said the road between Rumbek and Yirol County is being cleared for vehicles to drive to Rumbek.