This came after the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater, revealed a week ago that his ministry has been paying salaries without cash due to a liquidity constraint.
“We have been able to pay for the past seven months’ salaries without fail, but that money goes into the accounts without cash. So, getting cash is the biggest problem,” he made these remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bank of South Sudan governor, Dr. Addis Ababa Othow.
In a rebuttal, the Executive Director for the Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), Ter Manyang Gatwech, stated that paying salaries to civil servants is not a privilege—it is a constitutional right.
“The Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) calls on the Government of South Sudan to fulfil its constitutional obligation by paying civil servants in full fiscal cash rather than what appears to be insufficient and non-transparent disbursements,” Ter said.
“Paying salaries to civil servants is not a privilege—it is a constitutional right and a cornerstone of government accountability and service delivery,” he added.
Besides, CPA said it was deeply concerned by credible reports indicating that many civil servants are receiving amounts between 50,000 and 100,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), which is inadequate.
“These payments are inadequate and do not meet the basic needs of workers and their families, especially amid the rising cost of living,” he continued.
Mr Manyang encouraged the government to publicly disclose how much each civil servant is entitled to and how much has already been paid.
“Transparency and accountability are essential to restoring trust in public institutions and ensuring the dignity of civil servants who serve the nation.”
The CPA stated that it stands in solidarity with all public workers and restated its request for the government to fulfil its responsibilities by making proper and timely fiscal payments, rather than “empty cheapest” solutions that jeopardise livelihoods.
In February 2025, the government announced the timely payment of salaries for civil servants and organised forces, starting from March.
In March this year, the Vice President and Chairman of Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, committed that “salaries will be disbursed consistently on the 24th day of every month, an essential step towards ensuring public service delivery, administrative efficiency, and economic reforms.”
But three months later, the government has seemingly struggled to uphold that commitment. Despite press releases from the Ministry of Finance and Planning announcing salary payments in the last two months, some civil servants persistently complained about not receiving salaries.
The Minister of Finance and Planning conceded at a high-level meeting earlier this month that the government is battling a severe cash shortage, which is hindering the payment of civil servants’ salaries.
But observers say citing the recent cash shortage as a factor for salary delay is the government’s scapegoat for evading accountability.
