Equal opportunity does not necessarily guarantee equal access. The recent vehicle auctions conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees clearly demonstrate this reality in South Sudan.

Many South Sudanese citizens and small local businesses are unable to compete fairly against foreign companies and individuals who possess significantly greater financial resources, stronger business networks, easier access to capital, and long-established commercial advantages. As a result, local entrepreneurs are increasingly excluded from meaningful economic participation within their own country, even in sectors connected to humanitarian operations taking place on South Sudanese soil.

It is important to recognize that many of the vehicles and assets currently being auctioned were originally imported into South Sudan under humanitarian programs and entered the country tax-free. These exemptions were granted in good faith and in the spirit of humanitarian solidarity, with the understanding that the assets would support relief operations aimed at assisting vulnerable South Sudanese communities affected by conflict, displacement, poverty, and humanitarian crises.

These vehicles were never intended to become profit-driven commercial commodities that ultimately benefit already well-established foreign business interests while leaving ordinary South Sudanese citizens behind. Yet the current auction processes risk producing exactly that outcome.

Today, many South Sudanese citizens, living in one of the world’s youngest and most economically fragile nations, struggle daily with unemployment, limited access to credit, low household incomes, and weak market opportunities. In contrast, many foreign traders, individuals, and companies operating in South Sudan come from comparatively stronger economies, possess larger pools of capital, and are able to dominate competitive bidding processes with ease. Consequently, the majority of these humanitarian assets being auctioned are often acquired by financially powerful external actors, while local citizens remain spectators in their own economy.

This creates an uneven and exclusionary playing field that undermines local economic empowerment and contradicts the broader spirit of humanitarian support.

If these vehicles were made more accessible to South Sudanese citizens through equitable, fair, transparent, and inclusive auction mechanisms, the impact would extend far beyond ensuring that economic value continues circulating within South Sudan instead of being exported abroad.

When local citizens own and operate these assets, the benefits multiply across communities. Income earned locally is reinvested locally, supporting families, businesses, education, agriculture, and community development. This contributes directly to national economic resilience and long-term stability.

Humanitarian assistance should not end only with emergency response. A true humanitarian partnership should also promote, directly and indirectly, private sector growth, sustainable empowerment, local ownership, economic dignity, and national capacity-building. The disposal or transfer of humanitarian assets presents a unique opportunity to support South Sudanese participation in the economy and reduce long-term dependency.

The United Nations and the wider humanitarian community should therefore adopt auction policies that intentionally promote the inclusion and empowerment of South Sudanese citizens. Priority consideration should be given to transparent and accessible mechanisms that favor local participation, particularly for small South Sudanese businesses and individuals who otherwise cannot compete equally against financially dominant foreign actors.

Such measures are not about excluding foreigners; they are about correcting structural imbalances and ensuring that humanitarian operations leave behind meaningful economic opportunities for the people they were originally meant to serve.

Supporting equitable South Sudanese participation in humanitarian asset auctions is not merely a question of fairness. It is an investment in sustainable development, economic justice, national ownership, dignity, and long-term resilience for the people of South Sudan.

While the UN and humanitarian agencies may argue that they are following established procurement and disposal policies, such policies should not be applied without considering the realities on the ground. South Sudan’s economic conditions require flexibility and contextual relevance. Standard auction procedures often disadvantage local citizens who cannot compete equally with financially stronger foreign companies and traders. Humanitarian organizations should therefore consider reasonable waivers or adjusted mechanisms that promote fair local participation, ensuring that humanitarian assets also contribute to sustainable economic empowerment, inclusion, and long-term resilience for South Sudanese citizens.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer Patrick Riruyo and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Eye Radio. He can be reached at: patrick.riruyo@gmail.com