JUBA — South Sudan’s National Parliament has formed a nine-member committee to investigate allegations of malpractice by the country’s mobile network operators, following complaints of increased dropped calls and exorbitant tariffs. The committee, established August 27, 2024, was created by Dr. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), and is headed by Mary Nyaulang, with Paul Baba Ezbon serving as her deputy.
The investigation comes after a motion raised by Juol Nhomngek, an SPLM-IO legislator representing Lakes State’s Cueibet County, accusing telecom companies of extorting money from citizens by imposing excessive consumption rates for airtime and data bundles. The motion specifically named MTN South Sudan and its technology partner ZTE Corporation, alleging the companies have been illegally collecting $50,000 and a 10% cash Purchase Order from subcontractors.
The committee’s mandate is to urgently investigate these allegations and report on the practices of telecom operators such as MTN, Zain, and Digital South Sudan, which recently announced a tariff adjustment on August 1, 2024. The companies attributed the increased costs for mobile airtime and data bundles to new exchange rate regulations set by the Bank of South Sudan and the National Communications Authority (NCA).
While telecom firms argue the adjustment is necessary to support network reliability and technological advancement, citizens have voiced concerns that the high tariffs will severely impact communication and daily activities.
