The council of ministers of the government of South Sudan last Friday approved a sum of USD 100 million for the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation to clear salary, rent, and membership arrears and debts to regional and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs).

In 2015, the country cut back the number of its diplomats due to financial crises occasioned by the conflict that broke out in December 2013.

The foreign ministry’s spokesperson, Ambassador Hakim Edward, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that the approval of the sum is welcome news and that his ministry will use it to clear salary and rent arrears among other financial demands.

“The South Sudan government has approved USD 100 million as a first phase to settle salary arrears of our diplomatic staff serving in our foreign missions and embassies abroad who have not been paid for several months,” Amb. Hakim said. “And as you are aware, there are also rent arrears accumulated by our foreign missions and embassies. The third is the payment of arrears owed by South Sudan to regional and international organizations to which we have been accredited.”

He added: “For example, South Sudan owes the East African Community (EAC) close to USD 30 million, we owe IGAD USD 9.7 million, and the African Union USD 2.2 million. Therefore, that money will be used for clearance of these arrears and our debts.”

Amb. Hakim said the foreign ministry will work on clearing these arrears in the first phase and afterward work on recalling Foreign Service officers who have completed their tour of duty and replacing them.

“We are waiting for a recall of our diplomats and deployment of new ones. Recall those who are serving abroad and whose term of service has come to an end or are overdue and the deployment of new ones in their places,” Hakim said. “A committee has been formed and is working to ensure that this is implemented and they are working on the recall and deployments.”

He said the major challenge facing the foreign ministry has been a lack of liquidity and that the approved USD 100 million will help in clearing the salary arrears of staff, most of whom have not cleared their rent in their foreign stations.

“The finance ministry has already been directed as per the council of ministers resolution to ensure that that money is used for that purpose. So if this is done, then I think the major challenge will be overcome,” Amb. Hakim concluded. 

Information minister Michael Makuei last weekend said South Sudan was losing membership in various international organizations due to defaulting on paying membership fees.

"Some of our missions and embassies are in (financial) crisis, others have closed down. We are also losing membership in some of the organizations, be it regional or international, simply because we have not been paying our fees," Makuei told journalists.