(JUBA) – South Sudan’s national parliament is demanding urgent accountability from the Bank of South Sudan and the Ministry of Finance over an ongoing cash shortage that has left government employees, including lawmakers, unable to access their salaries for nearly a month.
During a heated session in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Monday, members of parliament from various political affiliations expressed deep frustration over the liquidity crisis that has gripped both the Central Bank and commercial banks in the country.
Michael Ruot Koryom, a representative for Nyirol County, voiced concern that government workers across the country, including soldiers and police officers, have not been able to withdraw their wages despite them being deposited into their accounts.
“All South Sudanese working for government institutions, including the organised forces, cannot access their money,” said Ruot. “We need answers. Many of us are sick and cannot afford medical treatment. Who is fooling us—the central bank or the finance ministry?”
MP Anei John Akok from Northern Bahr el Ghazal echoed the concerns and questioned the legislative body’s priorities in the face of an unfolding economic crisis. He urged his colleagues to redirect attention to the immediate hardship facing the population.
“South Sudan is in a critical situation. Why aren’t we debating inflation, the non payment of civil servants, or the rise in fuel prices?” Akok asked. “Fifteen of our colleagues missed today’s session because their cars had no fuel.”
His remarks revealed how the liquidity crunch is affecting even the highest offices of state, with basic operational capacity now being questioned. The scarcity of cash has left entire government departments barely functioning, and the situation is contributing to growing social tension across the country.
The ongoing shortage is one of the latest symptoms of South Sudan’s long standing economic fragility. The nation remains heavily reliant on oil exports, which account for nearly all government revenue, and has struggled to diversify or stabilise its currency since independence.
In June, Finance Minister Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater admitted in public that the country was experiencing severe cash shortfalls, but offered no detailed or lasting solutions. Since then, delays in salary payments have only worsened.
John Agany, the former chairperson of the information committee in parliament, confirmed that although salaries had been approved and entered into the system, the Central Bank lacked the liquidity to release the funds to commercial banks for distribution.
“The central bank is not providing liquidity,” he stated. “This is a dire situation affecting every citizen—including us in this assembly.”
As of July 2025, the official exchange rate stands at 4,600 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) to one US Dollar.
The Speaker of Parliament, Jemma Nunu Kumba, acknowledged the seriousness of the matter but deferred immediate action, asking MPs to submit a formal motion to trigger debate on the floor.
This procedural delay drew criticism from observers and civil society actors, who accuse the legislature of failing to respond decisively to the country’s deepening economic woes.
Ter Manyang, the Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, called out the parliament’s recent focus on international affairs, such as debates on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while neglecting the domestic economic crisis.
“A parliament that ignores its own economic collapse and internal security concerns is dangerously disconnected from the realities on the ground,” Manyang said. “The people are suffering, and their leaders must be held accountable.”
