SSRA flags revenue leakages at Juba International Airport
The South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) says significant fiscal leakages are occurring at Juba International Airport, where customs operations are a key national revenue point. The warning was delivered by SSRA Commissioner General William Anyuon Kuol, according to Eye Radio.
Anyuon said unauthorized tax exemptions are cutting into collections at a time the country needs stronger non-oil revenue streams. He framed the issue as a direct risk to economic stability if compliance gaps remain unaddressed.
24% of customs revenue linked to exemptions without legal basis
After inspecting the airport’s customs unit and the anti-smuggling department on Tuesday, Anyuon described what he called administrative gaps and illegal clearances that weaken the station’s full revenue potential, as reported by Eye Radio.
He said the airport’s operations should contribute close to a third of national tax revenue, yet “24 percent of the revenue specific to the customs division” is being lost to exemptions that “lack legal merit,” according to his account.
Commissioner General points to pressure tactics and loopholes
Anyuon attributed the losses to individuals who “impose” their authority on the system to bypass taxes. “One of the challenges affecting our collection is exemptions and loopholes,” he said in remarks carried by SSBC.
“Some individuals think they have the power to get exemptions for free. These unauthorized exemptions account for 24 percent of tax collections we are losing,” Anyuon added, emphasizing that the practice is outside the legal exemption categories.
Digital exemption system aims to remove the ‘human element’
To seal loopholes, the SSRA says it is working with the Ministry of Finance to introduce a digital exemption system. The stated objective is to reduce face-to-face interactions that can enable undue influence on customs officers (Eye Radio).
Under the new approach, exemption requests are to be submitted through an online portal. The SSRA says this will allow eligibility verification based on an institution’s legal status and reduce opportunities for informal clearances.
Online verification, fewer intermediaries, stronger audit trail
Officials say the digital shift standardizes the process and removes intermediaries. The SSRA also says it has eliminated the need for special committees or boards previously used to process exemptions, which it considers vulnerable to influence (Eye Radio).
Anyuon said each clearance should be backed by a digital trail aligned with South Sudanese law, positioning traceability as a core accountability tool for customs enforcement at the airport.
Leadership support and public cooperation stressed by SSRA
Anyuon argued that improving collections at the airport will require more than software. He said it also depends on political and public culture, and he called for support from national leadership to reinforce enforcement efforts (SSBC via Eye Radio).
He also urged the public to comply with the new digital mandates. “We have decided to put all exemptions on digital to ensure transparency,” he said, adding that those outside the legal exemption categories would be required to “pay your fair share.”