JUBA, Nov. 28, 2024 – South Sudan’s Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth announced Wednesday that the government is collecting at least 47 billion South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per month, thanks to a digitalized revenue system and contributions from telecommunications companies and other institutions under the ministry’s jurisdiction.
Speaking at the 8th Governors’ Forum in Juba, Makuei attributed the South Sudan Revenue Authority’s (SSRA) success to advancements in the digital payment system.
“With the help of the telecom sector and the digitalization of the Revenue Authority, the government of South Sudan is now collecting at least 47 billion South Sudanese pounds each month,” Makuei stated.
He emphasized his ministry’s role in tracking the revenue, while clarifying that the National Revenue Authority (NRA) is solely responsible for handling and utilizing the collected funds.
“This revenue is being collected through the efforts of the ministry. We track the figures and monitor the institutions responsible,” Makuei said. “To be clear, all the money collected does not belong to us. It is collected by the Revenue Authority, which manages these resources.”
Makuei also highlighted other accomplishments of his ministry, although he pivoted away from presenting on the Tumaini Peace Initiative, explaining that he is no longer directly involved with the program.
First Vice President Riek Machar, chair of the Governors’ Forum, commended the presentation, acknowledging the ministry’s contribution to national revenue generation.
South Sudan, which relies on oil for 98% of its budget, has faced significant economic challenges. Oil production has dropped due to the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which damaged the country’s pipeline to international markets in February. This disruption led to suspended loadings by the Dar Petroleum Oil Company.
Economic hardships persist, with civil servants and soldiers going unpaid for nearly a year. Teachers, doctors, and other professionals earning between $10 and $50 monthly have also faced prolonged delays in receiving their salaries.
