South Sudan's caretaker government has been urged to prioritise unpaid civil servants' salaries and soldiers' wages after collecting 138 billion South Sudanese pounds in domestic taxes in the first 15 days of October. The call was made by Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Centre for Peace and Development (CEPO). Yakani welcomed the disclosure of the revenue figures by the South Sudan Revenue Authority as a positive step towards transparency.
Yakani called on the government to account for how the money would be spent and ensure it addresses the needs of citizens. He emphasised that clearing salary arrears for civil servants and paying soldiers should be among the government's top priorities. Unpaid salaries have been a longstanding issue in South Sudan, affecting the livelihoods of thousands of civil servants and soldiers.
The CEPO director also highlighted the need for increased investment in healthcare and education. He cited shortages of medicines and basic hospital supplies in some parts of the country, including a hospital in Tambura where beds lacked mattresses and bed sheets. Yakani stressed that the government should use part of the revenue to support healthcare and education, particularly in communities with limited access to these services.
Yakani further urged the government to use part of the revenue to support agriculture at the local government level. He emphasised that public spending should not undermine preparations for the general elections scheduled for December 2026. Civil society organisations have welcomed previous disclosures of government revenue but continue to seek greater accountability in the use of public funds.
According to the South Sudan Revenue Authority, the SSP 138 billion in domestic taxes was collected despite operational challenges. Acting Commissioner for Domestic Tax Revenue Angelo Aguot announced the figures during a visit by Commissioner General Rizig Dominic Samuel to the division's offices in Juba on Tuesday evening.
Yakani also questioned why South Sudanese pounds remained scarce in commercial banks despite the reported collection of substantial domestic tax revenue. The CEPO director emphasised that civil society organisations would continue to push for greater transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
The South Sudan Revenue Authority's disclosure of revenue figures is seen as a positive step towards transparency. However, the government faces pressure to ensure that the collected revenue is used to address the needs of citizens, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education, and salary payments.
Key points
- The government is urged to prioritise unpaid civil servants' salaries and soldiers' wages using the SSP 138 billion in domestic taxes collected.
- The CEPO director calls for increased investment in healthcare and education to address shortages of medicines and basic hospital supplies.
- Civil society organisations continue to seek greater accountability in the use of public funds.
