South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested a nearly fivefold increase in its 2025/26 budget, warning that chronic underfunding has left embassies abroad struggling to pay salaries, rent and other operating costs.
Draft estimates seen by Radio Tamazuj show the ministry is seeking 259.2 billion South Sudanese pounds (SSP), up from the 55.1 billion SSP approved for the 2024/25 fiscal year.
The ministry said the current budget ceiling “is not equivalent to the salary structure of the missions” and does not cover mounting arrears, including unpaid wages, rent and general operational expenses at overseas diplomatic posts.
Despite the lower allocation for 2024/25, actual expenditure reached 243.4 billion SSP, more than four times the approved budget, according to the draft figures, underscoring a wide gap between planned and real spending.
Under the proposed 2025/26 budget, 252.4 billion SSP is earmarked for wages and salaries. Of that amount, 234.8 billion SSP is allocated to incentives and overtime, leaving 16.7 billion SSP as the basic salary component.
The ministry has also set aside 6.2 billion SSP for general goods and services and 629.5 million SSP for capital expenditure, including vehicles and equipment. Within its Support Services directorate, 4.56 billion SSP is allocated for the use of goods and services.
Budget documents show 178.6 million SSP allocated for “China Affairs” during the 2025/26 fiscal year.
The ministry reported a vacancy rate of around 35 percent across its departments, with 1,252 positions filled out of 1,938 approved posts.
Staffing shortages are most pronounced in the Foreign Relations and International Cooperation directorate, where only 353 of 719 approved positions are occupied.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs falls under the broader Public Administration sector. The national budget process for 2025/26 is ongoing, with parliamentary approval yet to be secured.