FILE PHOTO: Banknotes of the South Sudanese Pound (SSP).

A civil society activist has suggested that changing the design of the South Sudanese Pound could help draw cash back into commercial banks and ease the ongoing liquidity shortage.

The Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmond Yakani, made the proposal after the cabinet referred the issues of delayed salaries and banking pressures to its economic cluster for review.

While Yakani noted that the cabinet’s move shows the government is listening to public appeals, he stated that management problems are lowering public trust in local banks.

To show the impact on everyday people, Yakani shared the story of an elderly woman who went to collect her salary from her bank but could not get any physical notes because the branch ran out of cash.

“This shows a problem where workers are paid on paper but cannot withdraw their money,” Yakani said.

He noted that many people—including government officials, army officers, and traders—now choose to keep their money at home instead of depositing it. He pointed to a lack of trust in regulations and institutions as the reason for this shift.

To get this money back into the system, Yakani proposed that the government either print new banknotes or redesign the current pound. He suggested setting a deadline for people to trade in their old notes for new ones.

He said this deadline would oblige people to return cash to bank vaults, though he noted the move would require planning with international financial partners.

Yakani also mentioned reports that South Sudanese currency is being smuggled across the border into parts of Sudan. He urged the government to investigate whether this cross-border movement is contributing to the local cash shortage.

Regarding the months of unpaid wages for public workers, Yakani stated the delay comes down to what the government chooses to fund.

“Money seems to be available for political events and state functions, while civil servants and soldiers go months without pay,” Yakani said.

He urged the economic cluster to look past discussions and take steps to restore trust in banks, fix the cash shortage, and make public salaries the main priority.