The increase, described by officials as unprecedented, follows the rollout of digital public infrastructure across government revenue streams, including customs, fees, and non-oil taxes, significantly reducing manual handling of cash and improving state visibility over collections.
“As of October 2026, monthly revenues have reached an average of 130 billion SSP — representing an unprecedented increase that underscores the effectiveness of digitisation, disciplined governance, and data-driven fiscal management,” said SSRA Commissioner General Simon Akuei Deng in a statement on Tuesday.
Deng said the current figures represent a sharp turnaround from 2020, when the authority collected an average of just 3 billion SSP (about USD 648,000) per month — far below what was needed to pay salaries, fund infrastructure, or sustain basic public services.
“Through strong collaboration between the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and the SSRA — a sweeping digital transformation has reshaped the national revenue landscape,” he added.
According to the authority, the turning point came in 2021, when the Ministry of ICT launched a nationwide digitalisation and e-government programme across ministries, departments, and agencies.
Central to the reform was the introduction of digital cargo-tracking systems at borders and entry points, improving oversight of imports, exports, and customs declarations.
Deng said the system has strengthened accountability in cross-border trade and exposed practices that had long gone undetected under manual systems.
In May 2024, SSRA tracking data revealed that TriStar Company, contracted by the United Nations to import fuel for humanitarian operations, had diverted consignments for private resale at local petrol stations.
“While the UN acknowledged this misconduct and committed to investigating, no formal update has since been shared,” Deng said. “The SSRA reiterates its call for transparency and partnership to uphold integrity in trade operations.”
He said the digital cargo-tracking systems were implemented at no direct cost to the government and are financed through minimal, industry-standard levies designed to sustain long-term oversight of trade flows.
“The transformation achieved in public revenue management and governance through digitalisation demonstrates the power of innovation, accountability, and institutional collaboration,” Deng said.
Beyond customs, most of South Sudan’s non-oil revenues are now collected electronically, with taxes, fees, and service charges paid through digital platforms rather than in cash — a major shift in a country with limited banking penetration.
However, governance experts note that South Sudan’s digital revenue collection systems differ from open, state-owned digital public goods used in some countries. Instead, core platforms are operated through proprietary systems whose ownership and governance structures are not publicly disclosed.
Fiscal analysts say the primary digital tax-collection platform is linked to business interests associated with Adut Salva Kiir, the daughter of President Salva Kiir.
The platform processes large volumes of government revenue on behalf of state institutions, raising concerns about transparency, data ownership, and conflict-of-interest safeguards.
While the SSRA credits digitisation with improving compliance and reducing leakages, critics argue that concentrating state revenue flows through privately controlled platforms — rather than publicly governed digital public infrastructure — may weaken accountability and oversight.
Deng said the authority remains committed to promoting fiscal transparency, expanding digital innovation across all revenue streams, and strengthening South Sudan’s non-oil revenue base to support long-term economic stability.
Over the past two years, SSRA reported steady — though uneven — growth in non-oil revenue.
In March 2025, the authority announced gross collections of 132.6 billion SSP (about USD 28.6 million), while by October 2025, monthly revenues reportedly averaged 130 billion SSP (about USD 28 million), attributed to digital reforms and improved tax administration.
Earlier in the 2024–2025 fiscal period, revenues rose from 187.4 billion SSP (about USD 40.5 million) to 388.9 billion SSP (about USD 84 million) between July 2024 and January 2025. Even so, collections remained about 52 percent below the projected target of 559.5 billion SSP (about USD 120.9 million).
Despite the headline gains, economists warn that high inflation, currency depreciation, and weak public financial management continue to limit the impact of increased revenue on salaries, service delivery, and overall economic stability, underscoring that digitalisation alone cannot substitute for institutional reform.
