(JUBA) – The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of South Sudan, Most Rev. Peter Bol Arok, has called on the government to urgently address the ongoing cash shortage in commercial banks across the country.
Speaking during Christmas prayers at St. Joseph Cathedral Church in Juba, Archbishop Bol warned that the shortage is worsening the suffering of citizens, leaving depositors unable to access money they earned.
“It is a shame that all banks in South Sudan are experiencing cash shortages. This does not happen in other countries; it is only happening here,” he said.
Archbishop Bol emphasised that citizens are not asking for handouts, but simply want access to their own funds. “We know the government does not give us money. But the money we deposited in banks should be available when we need it,” he said.
He linked the crisis to broader economic and security challenges, saying insecurity prevents people from working, farming, and generating income that could contribute to national revenue through taxes. “The problem is insecurity, which denies citizens opportunities to work, earn money, and pay taxes,” he added.
The Archbishop also noted that the government mainly pays salaries to civil servants and organised forces, leaving many citizens dependent on bank savings they cannot access. He called on the public to collectively raise concerns and seek accountability over funds held in banks.
“Some people are hungry because their money is in the bank and there is no cash to withdraw to feed their children,” he said.
Beyond the economic concerns, Archbishop Bol appealed to communities to promote peace, unity, and national goals. He criticised the creation of new payams and bomas and the installation of new traditional chiefs, warning that these actions are deepening divisions. “These actions are creating division instead of strengthening relationships among communities,” he said.
Echoing these concerns, Jonglei State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement, Peter Kuer Atem, said the proliferation of new administrative units is placing additional financial burdens on citizens. “Many people celebrate the creation of new bomas and payams, but in reality, it affects their living standards,” Kuer said.
He added that government funds are limited, with much of the revenue from taxes coming from South Sudanese in the diaspora supporting local celebrations and administrative processes. “There is no money from the government. The funds being taxed come from contributions sent by your sons and daughters abroad,” he said.
Kuer also questioned the sustainability of creating more than 60 traditional chiefs in a single county, noting that many newly created payams and bomas are largely uninhabited due to displacement. “Most community members are internally displaced in neighbouring states such as Lakes and Central Equatoria, while others are refugees in Uganda and Kenya,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayen Deng, a community leader from Twic East County, welcomed the Christmas season and expressed hope for resettlement. “Life in urban centres is difficult. I am ready to return home if conditions allow,” Deng said, urging the government to pay salaries to help citizens afford transport back to their areas of origin.
The cash shortage in South Sudan’s banking sector has persisted for months, adding to economic hardship amid high inflation, insecurity, and limited public confidence in financial institutions.
Citizens Urged to Demand Accountability Over Deposits
| Area Affected | Impact |
|---|---|
| Citizens | Unable to access personal savings, cannot buy food or meet basic needs |
| Banks | Shortage of cash for withdrawals, reduced public confidence, operational strain |
| Civil Servants | Salaries generally paid, but limited access for non-salaried citizens |
| Diaspora Contributions | Key source of local revenue through taxes, supporting administrative and community needs |
| Administrative Units | Creation of new payams, bomas, and chiefs increases financial burden and social tension |
| Displaced Communities | Many newly created payams and bomas are uninhabited due to internal displacement or refugee status |
| Economic Activity | Insecurity limits work and farming, reducing tax revenue and local economic growth |
| Humanitarian Impact | Some families face hunger despite having funds in banks |