Parliamentary report details $55M debt for foreign missions and regional bodies

2026-03-05 - 10:18

JUBA, South Sudan (Eye Radio) — The Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Planning reported that South Sudan’s debts for foreign missions and regional organizations exceed $55 million. While presenting the 2025–2026 national budget report to the National Legislature on Wednesday, Committee Chairperson Hon. Rev. Michael Ayuen Johnson stated that missions in the UK, France, Italy, and the African Union face closures and evictions. These actions follow court orders regarding unpaid rent. According to the report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has accumulated $19.8 million in rental arrears. Landlords have initiated legal proceedings in courts outside the country to recover these funds. “The Committee observed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has accumulated rental arrears amounting to USD 19.8 million, and this is now being demanded by landlords through courts overseas.” — Hon. Rev. Michael Ayuen Johnson The committee noted that some embassies now operate online after losing physical premises. In France, a court ruling has imposed a daily fine of $2,000 on the government until payments are settled. “The Committee observed that South Sudan embassies abroad have been shut down due to the lack of payment of rental arrears, and that some embassies and diplomats were evicted by court orders... In France, a default payment of the court’s order has resulted in a daily fine of $2,000 until the entire payment is made.” The government owes a total of $36 million in accumulated membership fees to several regional organizations, including the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency. According to the committee report, this debt includes $21 million to the EAC, $12 million to IGAD, $1.1 million to the Great Lakes Region, and $683,000 to the Northern Corridor. Additionally, the Ministry of East African Community Affairs has unpaid office rent totalling $825,000 for a period of two years. This amount was not included in the 2025 national budget. The National Legislature continues to deliberate on the 2025–2026 fiscal budget before final approval.