Rats destroy 3 trillion South Sudanese pounds

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

The governor of the Central Bank of South Sudan, Johnny Ohisa, announced that about 3 trillion South Sudanese pounds were damaged by rats and rodents inside storage facilities, in an incident that sparked widespread controversy and questions about the management of public funds and mechanisms for protecting them in the country.

The disclosure of the losses comes at a time when the government is facing a worsening financial crisis, which has directly impacted its ability to meet its basic obligations, most notably the payment of salaries to civil servants and public sector employees, which have remained delayed during the current and previous financial periods.

The Central Bank Governor’s statements sparked widespread reactions in economic circles and among the public, amid questions about the procedures followed to preserve and secure the national currency, and the efficiency of the control and supervision systems for warehouses and facilities belonging to government financial institutions.

Economic experts believe that the incident reveals administrative and institutional challenges that go beyond the size of the direct financial loss, noting that the loss of this amount of cash highlights the urgent need to strengthen custody and storage systems and to enhance financial control within state institutions.

In another context, the National Elections Commission (NEC) announced on Monday that the general elections in South Sudan will be held on December 22, 2026, in a move that represents an important development in the course of the political process and democratic transition in the country.

This announcement marks the first official confirmation of the date for the anticipated vote, which citizens and political partners have been waiting for for years, amid hopes that the elections will contribute to strengthening political stability and consolidating democratic institutions in the young nation.

It is expected that the relevant authorities will intensify their technical, administrative and security preparations in the coming period to ensure the organization of a comprehensive and transparent electoral process, while political parties and voters await the release of more details regarding the registration schedule and other electoral procedures.

In a context related to local affairs in South Sudan, the Governor of Central Equatoria State in South Sudan, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, laid the foundation stone on Sunday for the establishment of the Murta School for Cadre Development and Moral Guidance in the Liwolo Viam area of Kajo Keji County, pledging to provide 100 million South Sudanese pounds to contribute to the launch of the project.

During the inauguration ceremony, the governor affirmed that the Murta Political Training Center will serve as a platform for qualifying and training members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), and for disseminating its political principles and values among members in Kajo Keji and throughout Central Equatoria State.

Read more: South Sudan announces December 22 as the date for general elections