Crawford suspension by trade minister sparks VP, parliament reaction

2026-03-06 - 14:27

The Vice President of South Sudan James Wani Igga, and the Transitional National Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Trade and Industry have formally challenged the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s decision to suspend and review the Crawford Capital digital payment and e-service system. The decision came in a ministerial memo dated March 5, 2026, from Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, Minister of Trade and Industry, announcing a 90-day administrative and technical review of the Crawford Capital system. The memo cited “limited network connectivity, insufficient training for staff, absence of electricity supply, and unstable internet connectivity” as key operational challenges. It also said fuel prices had sharply increased “because the traders are unable to get licenses.” During the review, the memo stated that Crawford Capital would pause issuing import and export licenses, while the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) would continue to collect license fees using established government financial forms. The Ministry’s memo further explained that it does not receive its allocated budget from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, which “has constrained its capacity to operate effectively.” In a letter dated March 6 addressed to Minister Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, the Vice President wrote that the engagement of Crawford Capital was “not a unilateral decision, but the result of extensive deliberations by the Economic Cluster, which culminated in a formal Resolution No. 34/2024 of the Council of Ministers passed on September 14, 2024.” He added, “A Council of Ministers Resolution represents a collective executive decision presided over by H.E. the President. As such, it cannot be dissolved, omitted, or reversed by a single ministerial directive.” The Vice President said that “unilateral changes to the digital payment architecture risk creating further revenue leakages and legal liabilities for the Government of South Sudan,” and advised the minister to “review and consult the Ministry of Justice and constitutional affairs opinion and pause your order.” Separately, the Committee on Trade and Industry of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly wrote to the minister requesting reconsideration of the suspension. The committee reminded the minister of “Presidential Republican Order No. 35/2025, which explicitly mandated use of the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) E-Government Revenue Collection System.” The committee also cited a directive from the SSRA, Ref. RSS/SSRA/J/CG/AO/2026/01/008, “which reaffirmed Republican Order No. 35/2025 and called for the immediate and total abolition of manual revenue collection.” The committee asked the ministry to “immediately furnish the Committee with the relevant documentation and technical justifications informing this suspension.” It said it would call “for a joint consultative meeting between the Ministry, the SSRA, and the E-service provider to ensure that administrative review do not undermine national revenue integrity.” The committee concluded by stating, “I expect a formal response from your office, both written and verbal, at the earliest convenience next week.”