There is no thriving souvenir market in South Sudan at the moment. You will find some people selling homemade jewellery or other trinkets, as well as a few women’s cooperatives creating and selling things like baskets, beads, crochet work and t-shirts.
Please be very weary of what you are buying. Do not buy things made of ivory, coral, shells, rhino horn, tortoise shell, rare hardwoods or wild animal hides. In South Sudan you can still get things made of these materials and it is very important not to buy them.
If you are not sure what the souvenir you are buying is made off and if it is legal, then don’t buy it. Not only it is illegal to buy certain items, but it is also illegal to transport those items out of the country and you can get in a lot of trouble.
When looking around for souvenirs, try to find out where things are made locally, usually by women’s groups, and buy directly from them. A great way to support the people and show them that tourism brings jobs and money to the communities.