Juba, South Sudan
February 9, 2022—-The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has suspended South Sudan for failure to clear its membership fee arrears.
South Sudan became IGAD member-State four months after it obtained independence from Sudan on 9th of July 2011.
As part of membership contributions to the regional body, the world’s youngest nation is due to pay its membership fees every year.
Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan’s Information Minister and government official spokesperson often says the government has been unable to clear its financial obligations, making it lose about 14 positions at IGAD.
“We have actually been suspended from IGAD simply because we have not paid our dues,”Information Minister Michael Makuei told media.
According to Makuei, there are so many vacancies. ” We are supposed to occupy about 14 of them which are supposed to be our positions and we are unable to occupy them because we have not paid our dues for long”, he said.
The senior government Spokesman also pointed out that a resolution was passed over the past three weeks directing the finance minister to clear all the arrears of foreign missions.
“After thorough deliberations, it was decided that the minister of foreign affairs discuss this with the new minister of finance to pay all the outstanding arrears so that the government or the people of South Sudan can benefit from these positions.”, Makuei added.
According to the recent reports, it’s suggested that the government owes other regional and world bodies membership fees.
These include the East African Community, the United Nations, and African Union.
