(ARUSHA) – A coalition of thirty two hotels has taken the South Sudanese government back to the East African Court of Justice after claiming that the state failed to honour a settlement worth $60 million, agreed earlier this year to cover years of unpaid accommodation and service bills.
The dispute is linked to accommodation provided to government officials, army officers and peace delegates following the signing of the 2018 peace agreement. The hotels were contracted through the National Transitional Committee, the body responsible for implementing the peace deal.
By 2021, many hotels began removing guests and cutting off water and power after bills remained unpaid. The committee was first led by Presidential Advisor for National Security Affairs Tut Gatluak Manime and later placed under Senior Presidential Advisor Gen Kuol Manyang Juuk.
To end the dispute, both sides reached an out of court settlement in Juba on 24 July 2025. The government agreed to follow a payment schedule, with the first instalment due on 29 September 2025 and the final instalment planned for 2026.
However, the hotel coalition led by World Focus Hotel and represented by Pan African Law Chambers LLP says the government has not paid anything. A summons dated 25 November 2025 has now been issued by the East African Court of Justice to the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General.
The $60 million settlement is equal to about SSP 426 billion, based on the current market rate where $1 = SSP 7,100.
| Amount | In USD | In SSP (Sept 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement Value | $60 million | about SSP 426 billion |
The settlement agreement was signed in the presence of senior government officials including then Minister of Presidential Affairs Chol Ajongo Mawut, former Minister of Justice Dr Wek Mamer Kuol and Undersecretary Mary Ajith. Negotiations also involved Ambassador Sebit Bullen Kamonde from the Office of the President.
Sources say that despite later meetings, including one with the newly appointed executive director in the Office of the President, Valentino Dhel Malueth, the hotels made no progress in securing payment.
Faced with a deadline under Article 30(2) of the East African Community Treaty, which limits the time allowed for filing cases, the hotels returned to court by registering a new Reference in the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice in Arusha.
The applicants claim that the government’s failure to pay violates the basic principles of the East African Community, including respect for law and proper governance.
The Ministry of Justice and the Office of the President have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
South Sudan Hotel Settlement Dispute
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Case Filed At | East African Court of Justice (EACJ), Arusha |
| Parties Involved | Coalition of 32 hotels vs. Government of South Sudan |
| Debt Amount | $60 million |
| Equivalent in SSP | about SSP 426 billion (at $1 = SSP 7,100) |
| Reason for Debt | Accommodation for officials and peace delegates linked to the 2018 peace agreement |
| Initial Settlement Date | 24 July 2025 in Juba |
| First Instalment Due | 29 September 2025 |
| Final Instalment Planned | 2026 |
| Government Payment Made | None, according to hotel coalition |
| Legal Team for Hotels | Pan African Law Chambers LLP |
| Lead Hotel | World Focus Hotel |
| Government Offices Served | Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General |
| Court Deadline for Government Response | 45 days from summons issued on 25 November 2025 |
| Main Claim by Hotels | Government breached settlement and EAC principles of rule of law and good governance |
| Current Status | Case registered with the First Instance Division of the EACJ |
| Government Comment | None yet provided |
