South Sudan is ready to offer mining contracts to the United States, Finance Minister Salvatore Garang Mabior said Monday, describing Washington as a preferred partner to help develop the country’s underdeveloped minerals sector.
“It is our time to engage with the international community so that we can receive financial and technical support,” Garang told reporters. “The American government is showing interest in helping us, as it did before independence. We are grateful.”
“We are ready to award them mining contracts,” he added. “We think the United States will be the best partner to help us in this area. They have the technology that can speed up development of our minerals.”
Garang spoke after briefing President Salva Kiir Mayardit on meetings in Washington, where he led a delegation to the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The delegation included the central bank governor, the first undersecretary of finance and the undersecretary for planning. Officials held talks with the IMF and World Bank focused on economic recovery, investment promotion and fiscal stability.
Garang said he appreciated continued U.S. interest in supporting South Sudan’s development, including possible cooperation in the mining sector.
Investment concerns
The outreach comes as the United States has raised concerns over transparency and security in South Sudan’s investment climate, warning these issues are discouraging American businesses.
In an April 9 meeting with the mining minister, U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael J. Adler cited a lack of transparency in ministry decisions, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Juba.
The embassy said it supports U.S. firms seeking opportunities in South Sudan but cannot encourage further investment due to concerns over transparency and security, which it linked to public financial management and government institutions.
Those concerns are particularly acute in the mining sector but extend across the wider economy, the statement said, adding that U.S. private sector confidence remains low.
South Sudan’s budget relies heavily on oil, which accounts for more than 90% of public revenue. The mining sector contributes little income due to weak oversight, limited infrastructure and regulatory gaps.
Although a 2012 Mining Act sought to formalise the industry, implementation has been slow, and the sector remains largely underdeveloped despite deposits of gold, copper and iron ore.
South Sudan, and President Kiir in particular, has faced criticism from the U.S. administration over delays in implementing the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and continued violence in parts of the country.
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