Kiir says non-oil revenues are considered “private” by those who collect them

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has said that non-oil revenues are considered to be private by those who collects them saying the corrupt practice is a tragedy facing the world’s youngest country.

The South Sudanese leader made the remarks during the swearing in ceremony of the country’s newly appointed minister of finance who was appointed on Monday following a public outcry over corruption which has rendered the country’s central bank empty.

“Our problem is that the non-oil revenues are considered to be private by those who collect them,” Kiir said Friday. “That they don’t go to the treasury of the government. That is our tragedy. But if we were collecting this money in good faith and put them in the coffers of the government, we would have a lot of money.”

Kiir also urged the new finance minister to limit tax exemption on some of the imports that he said are not supposed to be exempted adding that he believes the non-oil revenues could be a source of riches for the country that depend mostly on oil export.

“Now there is an issue of exemptions. Many people have companies and these companies bring all sorts of goods and owners of the companies including very senior people in the government either ministers or whatever they are, they bring goods and ask to be exempted. This is not possible,” he said.