Acting Foreign Affairs Minister speaking at JIA on 07.06.2023/ Photo by Awan Moses

South Sudan’s government has paid four-million US dollars to the regional body, IGAD as part of outstanding arrears, for the first time since the country joined the bloc, according the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Dau Deng.

This comes one and a half years after the regional bloc suspended South Sudan membership over non-payment of its annual subscription fees.

South Sudan joined IGAD four months after its proclaimed independence from Sudan in July 2011.

As part of membership contributions, the young nation is obliged to annually pay its membership fees.

Speaking upon his return this morning from attending an international conference in Oslo, Norway Minister Deng Dau say, the government remitted the money to IGAD on Wednesday.

“I have talked to the executive secretary of IGAD, Dr. Workneh and they have confirmed that they have received this money,” said Dau.

The diplomate says the payment is part of the government efforts to cleanse the image of the country abroad.

“We are talking about creating image of South Sudan, we have been called names,

“But I really want to thank His Excellency the President for this particular move of clearing this payment which is fifty percent of the outstanding contribution and fees from IGAD,” he added.

Deng Dau went on to say the unity government is working on clearing the arrears of other regional and international bodies.

“We will continue to endeavor getting money for those international organizations, regional organizations,

“We have part of the money that we have not paid to Africa Union, to SGLR, Great Lakes and to East Africa we have been paying, but we want to continue to pay this.”

He concluded saying: “I’m so grateful that the IGAD we have not paid before, so this is a good news on that line.”