Kiir forms committee to investigate taxation on South Sudan’s borders

By Amoko Robert

May 22 2011 (JUBA) – The President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir has urgently formed a committee to investigate officers who are working at border points in Juba .

The presidential degree also seeks to impose controls over Sudanese and foreign traders entering the regional capital Juba.

Last month the Southern Sudanese President, who will be the leader of an independent country in July, visited neighbouring Kenya, to discuss bilateral ties. Both leaders have expressed their commitment to fully protect southern Sudanese living in Kenya as well as Kenyans living in South Sudan.

The discussion also includes permanent trade relations and South Sudan joining the East Africa Community (EAC).

Kiir’s decree also gave power to the committee to investigate government institutions as well as the private companies that have been accused of illegally collecting taxes.

The investigation committee will be headed by the minister of commerce and industry Dhieu Stephen and seven other top government officials from various ministries.

They have been tasked with identifying any unauthorized institutions that may be collecting taxes, and bringing them to book. The committee is expected to present its report to the President within 30 days.

As South Sudan approaches independence cases of malpractice and corruption at the region’s borders have arisen. Many traders complain of high taxation at border checkpoints. Some say that they have to pay in taxes three times what the goods cost to purchase in Uganda and Kenya.

(ST)