JUBA – South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Planning has denied allegations that it prioritizes government payments based on a specific list or directives coming from the office of President Salva Kiir.
The “clarification” follows recent public remarks made by Amer Mangar Majak, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, who raised concerns over the processing and release of state funds.
In a press release issued by the Directorate General for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on June 15, 2026, the finance ministry stated that while it respects the concerns raised by the undersecretary, the claims do not accurately represent the country’s public financial management protocols.
“While we respect the concerns raised, the Ministry wishes to clarify that the suggestion that payments are prioritized based on specific lists from the Office of the President does not reflect the government’s financial management processes,” the statement reads in part.
The ministry explained that all requests processed through its system originate from various spending agencies and government institutions, which includes the Office of the President.
The statement further highlighted that South Sudan is navigating tight fiscal constraints, forcing the treasury to carefully balance numerous competing national priorities with limited available resources.
According to the ministry, funds are balanced across several critical areas, including funding for the National Electoral Institutions, the security sector, essential public services, and other pressing national obligations.
“The Ministry therefore, processes payments based on available resources, government priorities. The prioritization of these obligations should not be interpreted as preferential treatment of any institution or individual,” the finance ministry added.
The ministry concluded by reaffirming its commitment to public financial management reforms, equity, and transparency, adding that it will continue to work closely with all government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to manage funding demands within current resource limitations.
