South Sudan expects ID, passport booklets to arrive soon

JUBA – National identification and passport booklets are expected to arrive in South Sudan within days, according to the Director of the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passport, & Immigration, Major-General Simon Majur.

Sudans Post has learned that immigration institution has faced a four-month stockout of national ID and passport booklets, excluding those for official and diplomatic use.

General Majur attributed the delay to outstanding arrears owed to the German firm, Mauhlbauer, the supplier of the booklets.

However, he disclosed that the Ministry of Finance has issued a clearance cheque to settle the debt.

“We are hopeful to receive passport booklets within two to three days,” Majur said. “The Ministry of Finance issued a cheque today, and the company will automatically process the order. We expect them by the end of this week.”

To prevent future delays, Majur proposed establishing a dedicated account with three signatories – immigration, the Ministry of Finance, and Mauhlbauer.

This account would hold all collected revenue, allowing Mauhlbauer to recoup its fees promptly and avoid arrears. He emphasized that withdrawals would require approval from all three signatories.

The immigration chief did not disclose the amount of the latest payment to Mauhlbauer.

With elections approaching, Majur urged citizens to process their identification documents well in advance.

“Don’t wait until you need a passport for a job or travel,” he advised. “We encourage everyone, including families with children under six or seven years old, to obtain their identification documents.”

Majur highlighted the importance of these documents beyond travel and employment. He explained that IDs are crucial for identification in case of road accidents or other emergencies, allowing authorities to locate families.

The immigration department also hinted at a potential “mandatory registration” campaign across all states and administrative areas once the first batch of booklets arrives.

South Sudan previously halted the issuance of national identification cards, passports, and nationality certificates in 2020 due to an unpaid debt of USD 6.9 million to Mauhlbauer.

The government resumed issuing regular passports and nationality certificates in November 2021 after a partial payment of USD 3.4 million. The current outstanding amount owed to Mauhlbauer remains unclear.