Businesses Expect Relief from €10 Million One Stop Border Post in Nimule

(JUBA) – The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) has launched a Post Clearance Audit Unit and confirmed the start of a major European Union funded border infrastructure project in Nimule. Both developments are expected to strengthen customs compliance, enhance cross border trade and improve government revenue collection.

The Customs Division of the SSRA officially inaugurated the Post Clearance Audit Unit at a sensitisation workshop held at the Authority’s headquarters in Juba on Tuesday. The workshop brought together SSRA senior management, including Commissioner General Simon Akuei Deng, Commissioner of Customs Akech Tong Malek and other senior officials. The new unit has been placed under the Department of Compliance and Enforcement.

Officials explained that the Post Clearance Audit Unit will be responsible for reviewing imports after goods have been cleared at customs. This process is designed to reduce fraud, prevent revenue leakages and ensure compliance with tax laws and customs procedures. The system is widely used in other countries and is seen as a modern tool for improving revenue administration.

At the same time, the SSRA has confirmed that construction of a modern One Stop Border Post in Nimule, Eastern Equatoria State, will begin immediately following agreement with land occupants. The project is valued at 10 million Euros, which is equivalent to about 10.8 million US dollars or 49.7 billion South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) at the official exchange rate in August 2025.

Deputy Commissioner General Taban Abel Aguek, speaking to the media in Nimule, said the border post will improve trade facilitation and border security not only in South Sudan but also across East Africa and the Horn of Africa. He added that the project will also focus on capacity building and infrastructure development.

The construction is being implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Trademark Africa. Alongside the border post, the project includes the construction of a women’s market as part of its contribution to the local community.

Deputy Commissioner General Aguek also held talks with Nimule City Mayor, His Lordship Ceaser Longa Fuli, to resolve encroachment issues on SSRA land allocated for the project. He said securing the land was critical for successful implementation and for strengthening public confidence in infrastructure development.

Mayor Fuli welcomed the project, noting that it would bring stability, essential services and wider benefits to the community at the border.

The One Stop Border Post model allows travellers, traders and transporters to clear customs and immigration procedures for both countries in a single facility. For Nimule, which is South Sudan’s busiest border crossing with Uganda, this is expected to reduce delays, cut costs for traders, and increase revenue collection for the government.

Business analysts in Juba say the initiative demonstrates how donor funding can be linked with institutional reforms to improve service delivery and boost trade competitiveness. They note that poor border infrastructure and weak customs enforcement have long been barriers to South Sudan’s trade growth.

The combined launch of the Post Clearance Audit Unit in Juba and the border project in Nimule signals the SSRA’s push to modernise its operations. For businesses, it is expected to mean faster trade, better transparency and reduced costs associated with inefficiency.

South Sudan Revenue Authority Launches Post Clearance Audit and One Stop Border Post Project in Nimule