(Juba) – The Bank of South Sudan on Tuesday published its official exchange rates for 1st July 2025, setting the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) at SSP 4,606.63 per US Dollar on the selling rate, and SSP 4,470.48 per US Dollar on the buying side.
According to the official rate sheet released by the Bank, the Euro is now selling at SSP 5,402.66 and buying at SSP 5,242.08. The British Pound is pegged at SSP 6,311.55 for selling and SSP 6,124.11 for buying.
For regional currencies, the Kenyan Shilling (KSH) is trading at SSP 35.71, while the Ugandan Shilling (UGX) stands at SSP 1.28 for selling. The Ethiopian Birr (ETB) is listed at SSP 34.05 per unit.
Despite these formal rates, currency traders in the parallel (unofficial) market continue to exchange the US Dollar at levels approaching SSP 7,000, significantly higher than the official rate of SSP 4,606.63.
This gap highlights the challenges facing South Sudan’s monetary policy, especially as the economy continues to battle high inflation, trade imbalances, and currency speculation.
The parallel market rate, which represents real world transactions outside formal banking systems, often reflects the scarcity of hard currency and a lack of confidence in the local financial infrastructure.
The disparity also has a direct impact on the cost of imports, fuel, and basic commodities, placing pressure on household incomes and business operations across the country.
The Central Bank aims to provide a reference point for regulated financial transactions, including customs declarations, import contracts, and banking activities by maintaining and publishing official exchange rates. However, with limited foreign exchange reserves and declining oil revenue, enforcing these official rates remains difficult in practice.
Traders and financial analysts often note that the wide gap between the official and parallel market rates undermines confidence in the SSP and creates inefficiencies in the economy. Businesses are often forced to price goods based on black market rates, while access to dollars through official channels remains restricted.
The Bank of South Sudan publishes its exchange rate bulletins on its official website www.boss.gov.ss to guide commercial banks, forex bureaus, and the general public. However, until the parallel market narrows in line with official rates, many market participants are expected to continue operating outside formal channels.
The publication of the latest rates comes at a time when international financial institutions, including the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), are encouraging post conflict economies like South Sudan to improve financial governance in order to qualify for targeted development finance and trade support.
The US dollar remains the benchmark for most transactions, and the SSP’s official rate will continue to be a critical indicator of South Sudan’s economic direction.
