Finance

South Sudan’s currency is collapsing as government borrowing hits 70% of Gross Domestic Product-GDP

By Kei Emmanuel Duku South Sudan’s economy has been pushed into a state of debt distress and unsustainability as a lack of fiscal discipline, accommodated by the monetary and financial sectors, triggers a collapse of the national currency. A new World Bank Group report, titled “A Narrow Path to Recovery:[Read More…]

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Revenue Authority orders end to non-humanitarian tax breaks at Mombasa port Officials from the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) hold an operational meeting at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya. The high-level delegation gathered to discuss new directives on fiscal discipline and revenue mobilization. (Photo: SSRA Media Unit) By Kei Emmanuel Duku The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) has launched a sweeping crackdown on tax waivers, ordering its officials to immediately halt all non-humanitarian exemptions at the Port of Mombasa. The directive marks a significant shift in the country’s economic policy as the government moves to recover millions in lost revenue. The order was delivered on Tuesday by SSRA Commissioner General, Hon. William Anyuon Kuol, during a high-level operational assessment in Mombasa. Accompanied by Customs Commissioner Akech Tong and a delegation of senior advisors, Anyuon told staff that the era of easy exemptions is over. “In case of any exemption that has come from last Friday up to today, you must cancel it and ensure taxes are paid. There are no more exemptions,” the Commissioner General declared. “Any exemptions already on your table should be treated as cancelled.” This decision follows the “Memo on Fiscal Discipline and Economic Recovery” recently presented by Finance Minister Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol and approved by the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of President Salva Kiir Mayardit. Anyuon emphasized that the move is a critical part of safeguarding national funds in line with ongoing reforms. “The directive is clear: unless you are delivering life-saving aid, the bill must be paid,” an agency spokesperson added. “We are moving from a culture of waivers to a culture of accountability.” However, the government is maintaining a narrow window for essential aid. Commissioner General Anyuon clarified that the only legally recognized tax breaks currently apply to humanitarian organizations, including UN agencies and both international and local NGOs. Even these remain under intense scrutiny. “You need to verify whether the goods being imported match what the government has exempted,” Anyuon warned port officials. “The contents of the containers must correspond with the approved exemptions.” The shift was welcomed by Bulis Maker, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Mombasa operations, who noted that widespread tax waivers have long drained the national treasury. “As a government, we lose a lot through exemptions,” Maker stated while addressing the staff. “This is government policy, and as implementers and regulators, we must enforce what the government has decided. Exemptions not meant for humanitarian purposes should come to an end.” By closing these loopholes at the Port of Mombasa, the government hopes to generate the necessary funds to support critical public programs. As one official put it, “Mombasa is the gateway to our economy, and today, we have placed a lock on the door to revenue leakage.” The Port of Mombasa in Kenya serves as the primary maritime gateway for almost all cargo destined for South Sudan. As a landlocked nation, South Sudan relies heavily on this corridor for the import of fuel, food, and medicine. Historically, the “exemption” system has been a major source of revenue leakage, with critics arguing that commercial imports were often improperly classified to avoid taxes. By enforcing the new “Fiscal Discipline” memo directly at the port, the SSRA aims to capture revenue at the source before goods begin the transit to Juba.

By Kei Emmanuel Duku The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) has launched a sweeping crackdown on tax waivers, ordering its officials to immediately halt all non-humanitarian exemptions at the Port of Mombasa. The directive marks a significant shift in the country’s economic policy as the government moves to recover millions[Read More…]

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South Sudan eyes infrastructure investment to boost road connectivity, trade

 By Alan Clement South Sudan has joined African leaders in Luanda, Angola, for a high-level continental forum convened under the theme “Investing in Infrastructure for the African Continental Free Trade Area and Shared Prosperity.” According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance’s press unit, the Financing for Infrastructure Development[Read More…]

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Finance Ministry Disburses October Salaries on Schedule, Reaffirming Timely Payment Pledge

By Lodu William Odiya The Ministry of Finance and Planning yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to the timely payment of salaries for civil servants and the organized forces, announcing that October 2025 salaries have been successfully disbursed. In a statement issued by the ministry, officials confirmed the payments were processed in[Read More…]

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Fake claims headache to finance Minister

By Philip Buda Ladu The Minister of Finance and Planning Agak Achuil Lual has revealed that fake financial claims are the most chaotic scenarios giving him headache as people flock to the ministry claiming payment for forged medical referrals and nonexistent contracts payments. The minister made the revelation while speaking[Read More…]

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