New Data Law Anchors South Sudan Inside East African Statistical Architecture

(JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN) — South Sudan has moved to align its national data systems with regional standards after the President signed a law that binds the country to a common statistical framework across the East African Community.

The East African Community Statistics Bureau Act, 2025, received presidential assent on 26 June 2026. The law places South Sudan under a shared set of rules for producing and sharing official statistics with its neighbours. It is a legal step that allows national data on trade, investment, jobs and social services to be measured in the same way across the bloc.

The National Bureau of Statistics said the Act would change how public information is gathered, checked and published. Officials will now be required to meet harmonised standards, making South Sudanese statistics comparable with those from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For a country rebuilding its institutions, this offers a basis for planning that can be trusted by both citizens and external partners.

Better data affects everyday decisions. National budgets, school placements, clinic supplies, road contracts and food distribution all depend on accurate numbers. The new law supports national planning and the tracking of development programmes. It also helps South Sudan attract investment, because reliable statistics reduce the risk for businesses and donor agencies weighing up where to put their money.

The National Bureau of Statistics coordinated technical input on the draft law at the request of the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

Other institutions that worked on the file included the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Ministry of East African Community Affairs and the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.

The Bureau described the final assent as a sign of wide institutional cooperation.