South Sudan’s government and the management of Vivacell failed to reach an agreement after protracted talks in Juba today.
South Sudan authorities on Tuesday shutdown the mobile network operator Vivacell, citing failure to pay over $60 million in tax since its inception.
Vivacell's establishment in 2008 was facilitated by top officials of the ruling party SPLM. Vivacell is owned by Lebanon’s Fattouch Investment Group.
South Sudan’s government said there were no concrete results had come out of the talks.
The government team led by Information Minister Michael Makuei released a short statement on Thursday. It said: “We would like to inform the public that our negotiations with Vivacell Company have reached a deadlock.”
“We have agreed that discussions will resume after Easter holiday. Vivacell would want to consult their legal advisers in Lebanon and after Easter we will be able to resume our negotiations. In the meantime, the company remains closed, all the traffic of Vivacell remains closed,” said Ladu Wani Kenyi, the director general of the Communications Authority.