S. Sudan’s Interior Minister orders closure of 14 illegal checkpoints

By Julius N. Uma

September 19, 2011 (NIMULE) – Alarmed by the illegal collection of taxes at border points and check-points within the country, South Sudan’s interior ministry has ordered for the immediate closure of 14 involved in illegal tax collection.

The new directive was part of resolutions derived at a closed door meeting convened by Salva Mathok Gengdit, the country’s deputy interior minister in Juba, the South Sudan capital on 13 September.

The main agenda of the meeting, sources told Sudan Tribune, was to streamline the work of check-points and border entries connected with revenue collection and security matters.

Kengan Jakor Beyo, the deputy minister for commerce; Loluke Nartision Manir, the deputy governor of Eastern Equatoria state; and Gordon Micah Kur, the acting inspector general of police were among government officials attending the meeting.

Of the 17 agents said to be involved in revenue collection at border points, only six of them were reportedly authorised.

Those authorised by law include, customs, immigration (permits and visa), taxation (exercise duty), state authority (revenue collection) and commerce and supply.

“All other illegal sources of taxation should cease immediately,” partly reads a directive contained in the minutes of the meeting.

During the meeting, the deputy interior minister reportedly ordered the closure of 14 check-points, including those at Juba Bridge, Bor junction, Rajaf, Gumba junction, Pageri, Genja, Loka, Gulumbi, Morobo town, Lainya, Mobil, Jebel Gudele (relocated at Rokon), Northern airport and Bilpham.

The meeting also resolved that only 10 checkpoints remain functional. These include Nimule exit; Amee junction; Nesitu junction; Nimule entry; Jebel Kujur (to be relocated to Digala); Yei entry; Bazi; Kaya entry; and Lasou and Muni check-points.

The Interior Ministry has also advocated “those [officials] who have overstayed for more than two years or one year and built a powerful base must be transferred”.

The move comes less than a week after South Sudan’s leadership passed a resolution seeking to end malpractices in the tax collection system, which have reportedly resulted in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars through unauthorised tax collectors.

Also, a committee recently formed by the president of the of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, to investigate the situation has revealed that unauthorised levies and taxes on essential imported goods and services are also causing a hike in prices. The committee is chaired by Stephen Dhieu, the country’s minister of petroleum and mining.

(ST)