Members of the High-Level Committee on Economic Reform during a meeting on measures to strengthen revenue collection and improve economic reforms. Photo: Ministry of Finance and Planning

The government has announced new measures to strengthen revenue collection and address tax evasion and smuggling at the Nimule border.

The directives were issued on Wednesday by the Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reform after inspecting border facilities and meeting with government agencies, security officials, banks, and customs authorities.

Committee Chairperson and Minister of East African Community Affairs, General Pieng Deng Kuol, said the reforms aim to increase government revenue through better coordination among institutions.

He said revenue collection remains a top priority for the government.

The committee said tax exemptions will only apply to the United Nations and recognized humanitarian organizations, as provided by law.

It also directed that all government suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors must pay taxes before their goods are cleared.

The committee said all taxes at Nimule must currently be paid in cash, adding that the measure is temporary and does not replace the government’s digital payment programme.

Commercial banks that fail to follow the new procedures risk losing their licences.

The committee also ordered security agencies to remove illegal roadblocks and stop collecting money from truck drivers.

Only a few checkpoints will remain for security purposes.

Authorities warned that smuggled goods will be confiscated and those involved will face prosecution.

Only licensed clearing and forwarding agents will be allowed to operate at the border.

The committee also announced the closure of the Customs Security Unit and the formation of a new committee to oversee the implementation of the reforms.

It directed institutions operating at Nimule to reduce excess staff and ordered the South Sudan Revenue Authority to redeploy unqualified or surplus personnel to Juba.