Audio Brief: New Committee Takes on Salary Delays and Tax Breaks in South Sudan

(JUBA) – A new high level committee has started work on plans to restore economic stability, improve government revenue collection and ensure civil servants are paid on time.

The Ministerial High Level Committee on Economic Reforms held its first meeting on Wednesday at the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The nine member body was set up by President Salva Kiir Mayardit and approved by the Council of Ministers.

The committee is chaired by the Minister of East African Community Affairs, General Pieng Deng Kuol. The Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Ateny Wek Ateny, serves as the rapporteur.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Ateny Wek Ateny said the committee had started reviewing several reform measures. One of the key proposals under study is the review and cancellation of non statutory tax and financial exemptions granted to individuals, companies and other entities without a clear legal basis.

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Women rights defenders and civil society activists in Yei River County are calling on political leaders to ensure greater participation of women in politics and leadership as South Sudan prepares for general elections later this year.

The activists argue that although the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement provides for a 35 per cent affirmative action quota for women, its implementation has remained limited at local, state and national levels. This has left many women excluded from decision making processes.

Modi Arkangelo, Programme Field Officer for the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice and Chairperson of the Yei Civil Society Forum, told Access Radio on Wednesday that women continue to face barriers to leadership despite ongoing efforts to promote gender equality.

He urged women leaders across different sectors to unite and advocate for their rights. He stressed that increased female participation in leadership would contribute to good governance and national development.

Alice Siya Mama, Chairperson of the Yei River County Women’s Association, called on female parliamentarians and leaders to champion women’s political participation. She said women’s voices must be heard throughout the electoral process.

Juma David, a representative of the grassroots organisation Women for Change, urged the government and election stakeholders to guarantee equal opportunities for women to contest and participate in political processes.

Goro Grace, a women’s rights defender working with Special Action for Life Transformation, encouraged women to prepare themselves to take part actively in the elections, both as voters and candidates. She added that her organisation, together with other women focused groups, is committed to supporting and preparing more women for leadership roles through civic education, media engagement and community awareness initiatives.

The calls come amid growing advocacy efforts across South Sudan to increase women’s political representation and strengthen the implementation of gender commitments outlined in the country’s peace agreement. Activists say meaningful participation of women in politics is essential for promoting democracy, peace and inclusive development.

(MOROBO COUNTY) – A three day peace retreat has opened in Morobo County, bringing together church denominations, local authorities, chiefs, women and security agencies to seek lasting peace in an area of Central Equatoria badly affected by the 2016 civil conflict.

The retreat is organised by PARARA MISION, a church based organisation that partners with all church denominations in Morobo. It offers health services, Bible teachings and peace and reconciliation programmes in the county.

Trainers from Uganda and Kajo Keji are facilitating the workshop at the invitation of the Diocesan Bishop of Panyana. Stakeholders in Morobo County have been pushing for ways to restore peace within the county through all possible means.

In his welcoming remarks, Rt. Rev Seme Nigo Abuida of the Episcopal Diocese of Panyana thanked the County Commissioner for setting aside his daily duties and giving his time to the local peace and reconciliation efforts.

(JUBA) – South Sudanese youth have been urged to reject hate speech and refuse to be used as political pawns ahead of the general elections set for December 2026.

The call was made by the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Joseph Ngere Paciko, on the closing day of a workshop organised by the Political Parties Youth Forum.

The African Union provided financial support for the workshop, which was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Peace Building. The event focused on peaceful elections and democratic participation.

Speaker Paciko said youth have a legitimate and constitutional role to play within political parties. He urged participants to show responsible conduct and discipline, and to serve as ambassadors of peace and national unity across South Sudan. He also said Parliament is prepared to support a credible, peaceful and democratic electoral process in 2026.

In a separate development, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly held a formal reception of tribute in honour of the late former member of parliament, Anthony Kudus Justin.

(JUBA) – Civil society groups have asked the Ministry of Health to explain how 101 health facilities will keep running after the Health Sector Transformation Project pulled out in January this year.

The Network of AIDS and Health Service Organizations of South Sudan, known as NASOSS, led a delegation to meet Undersecretary Oromo Francis Seriano on Wednesday. The talks centred on funding shortages, the future of donor backed programmes, and reports that citizens are being charged for services that should be free.

The delegation included representatives from the Network of People Living with HIV, Malaria Youth Champions, and groups led by key and vulnerable populations. They presented eight priority issues to the Undersecretary.

The groups sought updates on the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and South Sudan. They asked for an assessment of the 101 health facilities left exposed after HSTP support ended in January 2026. They called for plans to protect healthcare resources and infrastructure built with donor money. The civil society organisations also discussed the Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 and proposed ways to find efficiencies and improve community engagement in HIV, TB and malaria services.

Oromo Francis Seriano told the delegation that the Ministry of Health would continue to engage with NASOSS and its partners. He described the meeting as part of efforts to reinforce the partnership between the government and health civil society networks.

(JUBA) – The United Nations has warned that it will hold South Sudan’s government accountable for promises to improve humanitarian access, saying that only real action on the ground will be accepted.

Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher told media after meeting President Salva Kiir and senior officials during a visit to South Sudan that the UN is not interested in just words and statements.

“We want to see real action,” Fletcher said.

He said the government had given public assurances to allow greater humanitarian access, particularly to areas of active fighting in Upper Nile and Jonglei states. He said protection of civilians and the safety of aid workers would be key areas of follow up.

“We will hold them to account for delivering on that access,” Fletcher said.

The UN has raised repeated concerns over attacks on aid workers, stating that their security is essential for life saving operations.

(NAIROBI, KENYA) – A government payroll audit in Kenya has uncovered suspected irregularities worth 6.2 billion Kenyan shillings, about 47.7 million US dollars, prompting a major criminal investigation and sweeping reforms.

A sample audit of just 12 out of 53 state departments revealed unauthorised changes to payroll records, irregular salary payments, weak controls over statutory deductions and fragmented payroll management systems.

The Cabinet, chaired by President William Ruto, directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate payroll fraud, verify personal numbers used in payroll processing, dismantle criminal networks manipulating government payroll systems, recover lost public funds, and ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of all persons found responsible.

The findings carry clear lessons for South Sudan, where public sector payroll management has long faced similar challenges of ghost workers and weak oversight.