President Salva Kiir chairs a high-level Council of Ministers meeting in Juba on Friday, April 17, 2026 - Credit: PPU

The Council of Ministers, chaired by President Salva Kiir, has approved a strategic government intervention to support telecommunications companies struggling under severe economic pressure.

The Cabinet has directed the Ministry of Finance and other relevant institutions to establish a formal mechanism that will grant telecom operators easier access to foreign currency, specifically US dollars, through the Bank of South Sudan.

The move is a response to the growing operational challenges faced by mobile network operators in the country.

Speaking after the Friday meeting, April 17, the government spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny emphasized that the intervention is essential for the survival of the sector.

“It is important that the telecommunication operators be helped for them to continue operating in South Sudan,” Ateny stated. “The Council has unanimously agreed that a resolution be drafted to work out a mechanism of getting US dollars at a rate that is comparable with the needs of the mobile operators.”

The Cabinet’s resolution mandates a joint effort between several key government bodies, including the Ministry of Finance, the National Revenue Authority (NRA), and the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and Postal Services.

This inter-agency team is tasked with working directly with mobile operators to create a framework for accessing foreign exchange at manageable rates.

Officials noted that the intervention aims to ensure the stability and continuity of essential communication services across the country. By facilitating access to foreign currency at official Bank of South Sudan rates, the government hopes to alleviate the financial burden on companies that rely on imports and international payments to maintain their infrastructure.

The decision marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to shield critical private sector infrastructure from the ongoing economic volatility.