The leadership of the South Sudan National Chamber of Commerce on Thursday expressed concern over what it described as a flawed and burdensome taxation system, warning that it is making businesses wind up operations across the country.
Speaking during the launch of the First National Trade Forum 2025 in Juba, the Chamber’s Deputy Chairperson, John Lual, criticized the multiple and uncoordinated taxes imposed by various government institutions, stating that they are among the biggest challenges faced by both national and foreign traders in South Sudan.
“We are unknowingly engaged in a trade war in South Sudan,” said Lual in his keynote address. “Institutional inefficiency is crippling the business environment. We are not doing what we are supposed to do.”
The forum, which aims to identify and address challenges faced by the private sector, brought together more than 160 participants from both government bodies and private enterprises.
Lual warned that if the government fails to implement a unified taxation system, many businesses risk shutting down. He explained that business owners are being taxed by numerous entities, including the Juba City Council, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and both state and national government agencies.
“This disorganized taxation has directly led to increased prices in the market. Everyone, government officials and even ordinary citizens, are trying to collect revenue,” he stressed. “The high level of taxation is killing businesses and scaring off investors. Shops are being closed every day. I want to be clear: South Sudan needs a unified taxation system. Our local authorities are fueling this problem because they insist on collecting taxes without proper regulations.”
According to Lual who called for urgent reforms, in addition to excessive taxes, law enforcement officers regularly shut down businesses, often on a daily basis.
The Chamber also revealed that some foreign companies, such as Fly Dubai, have already shut down their operations in the country due to the hostile business environment.
“City councils need to operate based on the Local Government Act and stop imposing arbitrary daily taxes. They are destroying markets across South Sudan,” Lual said. “We are seeing daily visits from city officials and arrests by the CID. This is forcing companies to exit. Who will remain?”
He further warned that the current situation promotes protectionism and complicates import procedures with excessive certification requirements that offer no real benefits.
For her part, Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, minister of Trade and Industry, said the purpose of the forum is to address the taxation problem which is raised in every economic gathering, and free trade in the East African Community.
“We must take charge of our economy because nobody will come from somewhere to transform it. The private sector cannot work alone in isolation, but together with the public sector, we can force a better way forward for more sustained economic growth for all,” she said. “We understand that stabilization of our economy requires our collective efforts. For us to have a stable market, we need to ensure that every business operates under the legal framework, complying with regulations and laws that govern businesses.”
“To boost interest rates, promote economic growth and political cooperation, we must work closely with other regional trade groups,” she added.