JUBA —The Council of Ministers on Friday, in its first ordinary session of the year chaired by President Salva Kiir, approved the country’s 2025–2026 fiscal year budget amounting to 7 trillion South Sudanese Pounds.
Following the deliberations, the Cabinet directed the Minister of Finance and Planning to table the budget before Parliament for further debate and final endorsement.
The Minister of Information, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the proposed budget has a deficit of 1.5 trillion SSP, noting that the Minister of Finance has assured the Council of the ministry’s commitment to improving revenue collection to address the gap.
Makuei noted that the Minister of Roads and Bridges, Simon Mijok Mijak, presented a report on the proposed construction of a road connecting South Sudan and Ethiopia, ultimately leading to the port of Djibouti.
He said the impending highway will serve as a crucial transportation route for crude oil to the international market.
“During the meeting, President Kiir directed all ministers to enhance the performance of their respective institutions, underscoring the imperative of efficiency and accountability,” Kiir’s office said in a statement.
The Cabinet further issued a ban on unnecessary tax and duty exemptions, which it said have cost the government billions.
It further resolved to prohibit any individual from signing loans on behalf of the government without following the proper legal procedures, underscoring the need to safeguard the country’s financial integrity.
