(JUBA) – The Ministry of Trade and Industry of South Sudan has ordered the immediate cancellation and recall of all unused import licences issued between 1st July 2024 and 18th July 2025. The move follows credible reports of irregularities in the procedures used to issue the licences.
In a ministerial order signed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, the decision was made under the authority of Presidential Decree No. 105/2025 and in accordance with Article 114 of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan (2011, as amended), alongside the Import and Export Act of 2012.
The order states that the cancellation is a necessary step to allow for verification and replacement of the affected licences. The Ministry has warned that any individuals found to have issued or acquired such licences unlawfully will face both administrative and legal action.
“This measure is necessitated by credible reports of procedural irregularities,” the order reads. “Any individual found to have unlawfully issued or obtained such licences shall be subject to administrative and legal action in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.”
From now on, all import licences will be issued exclusively through the Ministry’s headquarters in Juba to ensure a transparent and accountable system. This centralisation of the process is expected to reduce room for misconduct and strengthen institutional oversight.
The Ministry did not disclose how many licences are affected by the decision, but the directive is likely to impact a significant number of businesses across the country, especially those operating in border states and remote regions where many applications are traditionally processed.
This order takes effect immediately and is binding on all importers, agents, and relevant officials. Businesses that obtained unused licences during the stated period will now be required to present them for inspection before reapplying.
According to analysts, the cancellation could temporarily delay imports of essential goods, including fuel, building materials and food items. However, government officials insist that the move is necessary to restore trust in the country’s licensing system.
Traders have been advised to liaise with the Ministry’s Juba office for verification and reissuance procedures. The Ministry also encouraged all stakeholders to report any known irregularities and cooperate fully with the verification process.
The directive is the latest in a series of reforms aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight in South Sudan’s trade sector, which has faced repeated challenges related to corruption and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Copies of the order were circulated to technical and legal advisers, department heads, and the economic security division, as well as to media houses across the country.
