GENEVA, March 21 — Hon. Bec George, deputy minister of finance for the Republic of South Sudan, addressed delegates from various nations during the DMFAS Advisory Group Meeting hosted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Representing South Sudan for the first time at the conference, George highlighted the country’s commitment to advancing debt management practices since its independence from Sudan in 2011.
In February 2025, South Sudan achieved a significant milestone in fiscal and financial management by adopting the Debt Management and Financial Analysis System (DMFAS), supported by the African Development Bank. The system aims to enhance debt recording, transparency, and efficiency as part of the country’s broader public financial management reforms.
“We must equip ourselves with the right tools, systems, and technical capacity to make empirical policy decisions,” George said, emphasizing the transformative potential of DMFAS in debt governance and transparency.
South Sudan’s challenges, including the migration of historical debt data previously managed through Excel-based systems, were acknowledged. George stressed the importance of collaboration with international partners such as the African Development Bank, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund to overcome these obstacles.
Moving forward, South Sudan plans to expand DMFAS usage, integrate it with other financial management systems, and prioritize staff training to strengthen technical capacity. “The installation of DMFAS marks a pivotal moment in South Sudan’s debt management history,” George added, expressing gratitude to UNCTAD and its partners for their continued support.
The conference underscored the country’s commitment to sustainable debt management practices that align with its broader economic development goals.
