Napoleon Adok Gai, the Director General of the National Communication Authority - Courtesy

The Director General of the National Communication Authority has refuted parliament claims that the two telecommunications companies, ZAIN and MTN are not paying taxes to Sudan.

Napoleon Adok Gai’s response comes weeks after the chairperson of the Finance and Planning at the R-TNLA told the August House that the two major Mobile Network operators Zain and MTN are still paying business profit taxes to Sudan.

“The house observes that frequency fees are still being collected by Sudan from Zain and MTN because their registration licenses are valid until 2024 and 2027 respectively,” said Hon. Changkouth Bichiock, the committee chairperson.

Zain Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer met with the government spokesperson and NCA on Thursday.

Speaking to the state-run TV, SSBC, the director general of the National Communication Authority Napoleon Adok Gai said the two companies had long cleared Sudan before South Sudan gained independence.

And that the claims that they have been paying fees to Sudan are not true.

“I would like to clarify some issues that have been in the media recently that ZAIN and MTN are still paying tax to Sudan, that is not true,” said Napoleon.

“What has been said to the parliament was that the licenses of Zain in Sudan which are now working are those licenses which were paid to Sudan before independent,

“We have reached a harmonization agreement for them to complete their terms before we issue a sovereign license of South Sudan, that is where the confession is.”

However, Napoleon pointed out that both Zain and MTN are operating under a sovereign license issued by Sudan before independence that was paid once.

He stated that once the sovereign license issued by Sudan expired, South Sudan will renew the sovereign license for Zain in 2029 and for MTN in 2027.

“Zain is not paying tax to Sudan neither is MTN paying tax to Sudan, it was the license fees that were paid to Sudan back in 2005 before the independence, that we have allowed Zain to run its cost.

“So, by 2029, Zain will be issued a new sovereign license of South Sudan and the same also with MTN.”

South Sudan has three Mobile Network operators which include, the Kuwait-based mobile operator, Zain alongside the South African-owned MTN, and the South Sudan-based Digitel Network which was launched last year.