Improved Revenue Must End Salary Arrears Crisis, Says Edmond Yakani

The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmond Yakani, has called on the government of President Salva Kiir to urgently channel improved domestic revenue collections toward clearing salary arrears owed to civil servants and soldiers.

Yakani welcomed the reported increase in revenue collection by the Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reform, describing the development as “good news” for South Sudan.

However, he cautioned that increased government revenue must translate into tangible relief for public employees who have endured months of unpaid salaries amid worsening economic hardship and soaring commodity prices.

“My appeal to the leadership of the country, in particular His Excellency the President, since now the Ministerial High-Level Committee has witnessed improvement in revenue collection, the money collected should be injected into clearing the salaries arrears of the civil servants and soldiers.”

He urged the government to prioritize clearing at least one year of outstanding salary arrears for civil servants, saying workers cannot continue to shoulder the burden of the country’s economic difficulties.

Yakani also expressed concern over the financial challenges facing South Sudanese embassies and diplomatic missions abroad.

He said diplomats and embassy staff are struggling with unpaid salaries, rent and operational expenses, despite their responsibility to represent South Sudan and maintain the country’s international relations.

The CEPO director further welcomed the government’s acknowledgment that revenue collection has previously been undermined by manipulation, malpractice and a lack of transparency.

Yakani argued that South Sudan has adequate resources to meet essential government obligations if public revenues are collected transparently and managed in the national interest.

“South Sudan is not broke, but unfortunately we have people who run away with the revenue of the nation for their personal interest and for their personal gain,” he said.

He stressed that improved revenue collection must now be accompanied by greater accountability and transparency, warning that increased collections would have little meaning for citizens if they do not result in timely salary payments and improved public services.

Yakani said the government should use the reported revenue gains to restore confidence among civil servants, soldiers and citizens by clearing salary arrears and ensuring the timely delivery of essential social services.