By News Staff JUBA | Wednesday, March 25, 2026

JUBA — The Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) launched a city-wide load-shedding program today, effective March 25 at 5:00 PM. The utility provider cited the ongoing Iran-US conflict and its direct impact on global energy supply chains as the primary reason for the rationing.

In a public notice, JEDCO stated it must proactively manage energy reserves to maintain long-term grid stability and ensure the operation of essential services. The company confirmed that power interruptions will occur on a rotational basis across different city sectors.

Economic Impact on Juba Traders

The sudden implementation of rationing has sparked immediate concern among small business owners who lack alternative power sources.

At Konyo Konyo Market, Ahmed, a local bookshop owner, told The South Sudan Times that the move threatens his daily operations. “This decision will impact my business,” Ahmed stated. He noted the difficulty of running a modern shop without a consistent grid.

For those dealing in perishable goods, the outlook is even more severe. Mary, who operates a juice shop in the city, said her livelihood is at stake. “My juice shop will definitely close down because I only rely on JEDCO power supply,” she stated.

Safety and Scheduling

JEDCO management advises all customers to unplug sensitive electronic equipment during “off” periods. This prevents electrical damage during power restoration.

The company expects to publish a detailed “Power Allocation Schedule” shortly via its official channels. JEDCO noted they are working with stakeholders to mitigate the impact of these geopolitical challenges. They thanked the public for their resilience.

JUBA — The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) has drastically escalated its non-oil revenue collection mandates. The Commissioner General has set a target of 160 billion South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) per month. This target is for the final four months of the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

The ambitious fiscal directive, announced this week, signals a highly aggressive push by the national government. It aims to offset continuing shortfalls in oil exports. This will be achieved by maximizing domestic taxation and customs duties before the current fiscal year closes.

The Math and the Mandate

If the SSRA successfully meets this newly established monthly benchmark, the Authority will extract an additional 640 billion SSP from the domestic economy. This extraction will occur between March and June 2026.

• Intensified Compliance: Achieving a monthly baseline of 160 billion SSP will require the SSRA to strictly enforce compliance across all non-oil sectors. This demands utmost efficiency in corporate taxes, personal income taxes, and border customs.
• Institutional Pressure: The directive places immediate, heavy pressure on state-level revenue branches. It stresses major border posts, like Nimule, to close financial leakages. They must guarantee all collected funds are remitted directly to the national single treasury account without delay.

Friction with the Private Sector

This revenue announcement arrives at a highly volatile moment for the South Sudanese commercial sector. The ambitious target directly intersects with the ongoing institutional friction about exactly how these taxes are being collected.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry clashed with the executive Economic Cluster just last week. They had disagreements over the operational failures of the Crawford Capital digital payment system. This system is a digitized gateway explicitly designed to boost the SSRA’s revenue streams.

Extracting 160 billion SSP monthly from a private sector already battered by hyperinflation. Currency depreciation and fragile digital infrastructure will raise concerns among local traders. The Chamber of Commerce has long complained about multiple and overlapping taxation.

JUBA — The Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) and Ecobank South Sudan have announced a joint partnership. They aim to digitize the buying of electricity tokens across the capital.

The new initiative was announced via a joint press release. It integrates utility payments directly into the Ecobank mobile application. This signifies a significant private-sector push toward digital financial services in South Sudan.

Bypassing the Physical Queues

Historically, Juba residents have faced long queues when purchasing prepaid electricity. They have also encountered logistical hurdles. Residents often rely on physical visits to JEDCO offices or authorized street vendors.

• 24/7 Accessibility: The new digital service allows Ecobank customers to buy tokens at any time. This eliminates the dependency on physical vendor operating hours.
• Service Efficiency: The partnership is explicitly designed to reduce physical queues and improve immediate access to essential utility services.
• Financial Tracking: Customers will now be able to securely track their electricity expenditure directly through their mobile banking interface.

The Digital Integration Process

The process utilizes existing mobile banking architecture to streamline the exchange. Users navigate through the Ecobank mobile app. They select the “Pay Bill” and “Utility” options. Next, they choose “JEDCO Electricity” and enter their specific meter number and the desired cash amount.

Both JEDCO and Ecobank expressed that this partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing digital payments. They also aim to play a key role in the “economic transformation of South Sudan.”

JUBA — South Sudan’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, has officially rescinded her controversial 90-day suspension of the Crawford Capital digital payment system.

The reversal, outlined in Memorandum No. 2/2026 dated March 13, 2026, brings a formal end to the institutional standoff, confirming that the minister yielded to direct instructions from Vice President H.E. Dr. James Wani Igga, chair of the economic cluster.

A Constitutional Defense

While complying with the vice president’s March 6 letter to pause her directives, Minister Atong utilized the new memo to mount a robust legal defense of her initial actions.

• “Good Faith” Intent: She stated that the original March 5 suspension was issued “in good faith” to save both the Ministry and the wider economy from collapsing under operational failures.
• Constitutional Mandate: The minister cited Article 114 (1) of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 (as amended). She argued this article legally establishes that a minister is the head of their ministry and their decisions “shall prevail,” unless explicitly reviewed by the National Council of Ministers or suspended by the president.
• Respecting the Council: She formally clarified that her previous memo was not an attempt to “dissolve, omit, or reverse” the collective Council of Ministers’ Resolution No. 34/2024, but rather an administrative attempt to review system challenges and serve the public interest.

Reluctant Compliance and a Demand for the SSRA

The suspension was canceled immediately. However, the language on the second page of the memo reveals that institutional friction remains high.

• Standing Firm on Principle: Minister Atong bluntly noted that her personal decision to review the Crawford Capital system “remains unchanged.” She is “obliged to respect the advice” of the vice president and chair of the economic cluster.
• Support for Digitization: She reaffirmed the Ministry’s broad support for e-services, automation, and integration into the East African Community system. This support is granted, provided it is executed systematically to avoid trade disruption.
• An Ultimatum for Transparency: In a final directive (NB), the minister gave an ultimatum to the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA). She demanded they provide a transparent account with “clear details.” She stated this accounting is necessary. It will enable the Ministry to issue a public circular disseminating the proper use of the e-service system.

JUBA — A major institutional dispute has erupted within the South Sudanese government over the digitization of non-oil revenue. The Minister of Trade and Industry suspended a key digital payment contractor. Within 24 hours, both the Vice President for the Economic Cluster and the National Legislature intervened. They overruled the decision, citing legal violations and the risk of massive revenue leaks.

The rapid succession of official memos, dated March 5 and March 6, 2026, highlights ongoing tension. There is a disconnect between the government’s push for e-governance and the harsh infrastructural realities crippling state ministries.

The Trigger: Minister Atong Suspends Crawford Capital

On Thursday, March 5, Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk issued a directive. It initiated a “90-Day Administrative and Technical Review” of Crawford Capital. Crawford Capital is the private firm contracted to manage the ministry’s digital payment and e-service system.

The Minister ordered Crawford to promptly pause the issuance of import and export licenses. She instructed the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) to revert to “established Government financial forms and procedures” (manual collection). This was to guarantee uninterrupted fee collection.

In her memo, Minister Atong laid out a stark picture of the ministry’s operational collapse:

Infrastructure Failure: She cited the absence of constant electricity. Unstable internet connectivity also contributes to the problem. Additionally, insufficient staff training makes the digital system ineffective across the ministry’s 16 stations.

Economic Pressures: The Minister noted that fuel prices have surged to 12,000 SSP per liter. As a result, traders are unable to secure licenses.

Budget Freeze: Crucially, she revealed a critical issue. The Ministry of Trade is not receiving its allocated budget from the Ministry of Finance and Planning. This severely constrains its operational capacity.

The Pushback: VP Wani Igga Intervenes

The following day, March 6, 2026, the executive branch delivered a swift rebuke. Vice President H.E. Prof. James Wani Igga, Chairperson of the Economic Cluster, issued a formal letter. He ordered Minister Atong to “pause your order.” He also instructed her to consult the Ministry of Justice.

While acknowledging the connectivity and training challenges, the Vice President argued that the Minister overstepped her legal authority:

Collective Decision: VP Wani Igga pointed out that engaging Crawford Capital was a collective executive decision. It was cemented by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 34/2024 in September 2024. He stated that such a resolution “cannot be dissolved, omitted, or reversed by a single ministerial directive”.

Revenue Leakage Risk: He warned that making unilateral changes to the digital payment architecture pose several risks. It creates further revenue leakages. Additionally, there are legal liabilities for the Government.

The Legislature Issues an Ultimatum

On the same day, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) escalated the matter. Hon. Eng. Mayen Deng Alier is the Chairperson of the Standing Specialized Committee on Trade and Industry. He formally demanded that the Minister reconsider the suspension.

Presidential Order Violation: The parliamentary committee reminded Minister Atong of Presidential Republican Order No. 35/2025. This order explicitly mandated the use of the SSRA E-Government system. It called for the “immediate and total abolition of manual revenue collection”.

Demand for Evidence: The Committee requested that the Ministry promptly give them with “technical justifications” for the suspension. They announced plans to convene a joint consultative meeting among the Ministry, the SSRA, and Crawford Capital. This is to ensure that the review does not “undermine national revenue integrity”.

Photo Credit: Dolku Media

JUBA — In a high-stakes return to the national treasury, the newly reappointed Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, has pledged to resolve the country’s chronic salary crisis within his first week in office.

The announcement, made during a reception ceremony on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, follows a rapid leadership shake-up by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who dismissed the previous minister, Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol, after just three months in the post.

The “Management, Not Money” Doctrine

Minister Garang’s address focused on a blunt assessment of South Sudan’s fiscal woes. He asserted that the nation’s inability to pay its workers is a failure of leadership rather than a lack of wealth.

The Promise: “I promise, the salaries must be paid, the arrears must be paid, and the budget for elections must be done… Because I know we have the money; what we lack is management.”

Fiscal Priorities: Accountability and transparency were named as the top two pillars of his new tenure.

Ethnic Equity: In a call for national unity, the Minister emphasized that resources must be distributed “transparently and evenly throughout the 64 tribes”.

Critical Tasks: Arrears and the 2026 Roadmap

The minister faces an uphill battle to restore public confidence as inflation and currency depreciation continue to erode the purchasing power of ordinary citizens.

Election Funding: Garang met with the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Tuesday to discuss the $433 million required for the December 2026 general elections. He pledged full financial support to ensure the polls remain on track.

Salary Backlog: Civil servants in many sectors are reportedly owed between four to six months of back pay. Garang has vowed to establish a “disciplined and responsive” payment schedule to stabilize household economies.

A Controversial Comeback

While supporters hail his experience, critics have pointed to Garang’s previous tenure (2018–2020), which was marked by significant controversy:

Advance Oil Sales: Garang was previously linked to the mortgaging of South Sudan’s crude oil to secure a $400 million loan from Afreximbank, a deal that reportedly committed oil proceeds through 2027.

Institutional Skepticism: Civil society activists, including Angelina Adhel Malual, have expressed frustration with the “political recycling” of male leaders at the Finance Ministry, calling instead for structural reforms and female leadership to combat systemic corruption.