The US Embassy in Juba said it is deeply concerned about the lack of transparency in government decisions in South Sudan.
She added in a statement that this undermines investor confidence and negatively affects the investment climate in the country.
Lack of transparency and deteriorating security situation
During a meeting held on April 9 with Minister of Mining Lasuba Wangu, Ambassador Adler noted these concerns, explaining that the U.S. government strongly supports American companies willing to invest in South Sudan, but faces difficulties in encouraging further investment due to a lack of transparency and a deteriorating security situation.
The embassy stressed that ”these challenges are directly related to the lack of transparency in the use of public revenues and government positions, which is a particular concern in the mining sector, and its impact extends to the economy as a whole.”.
The statement added that the US private sector lacks confidence in the investment environment in South Sudan, attributing this to what it described as the transitional government's weak commitment to promoting transparent business practices.
Creating an attractive investment environment
The embassy stressed that the people of South Sudan have waited a long time to achieve peace and benefit from their country's resources, expressing its confidence that American investments can contribute to economic prosperity.
The United States called for reforms that would create an attractive investment environment based on transparency and stability, enabling the attraction of more foreign investment.
