Known in East Africa as ‘akala’, a cheap footwear made from rubber tyres gains popularity in South Sudan

Known in East Africa as ‘akala’, a cheap footwear made from rubber tyres gains popularity in South Sudan

In Wau, some 650 kilometres (400 miles) from the South Sudanese capital, Juba, shoemaker Emmanuel Achuil works under the shade of a tarpaulin in the town’s bustling main market. His hands blackened from grappling with rubber, Achuil uses a blade to carve pieces from discarded tyres. Colourful straps are scattered around him like pieces of a puzzle.

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