South Sudanese farmers who have relied on United Nations agencies operating in the country say they fear losing a ready market for their produce if the UN follows through on its threat to scale down operations in the world's newest nation. This comes after the United States, the European Union and other countries expressed concern over Juba's decision to impose taxes on some goods purchased by the UN.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has already reduced its security operations in South Sudan. The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, says Juba's move to impose taxes on various services provided by the UN in South Sudan will have severe consequences, including cuts in aid and other humanitarian assistance.
"Our concern is that the authorities have blocked our fuel, and we are unable to implement our mandate, including important elements, which affect and support South Sudanese — including the delivery of aid and food to vulnerable communities," he said.
A recent joint statement by the Embassies of the United States, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom accused Juba of imposing taxes on a range of approvals and fees, contrary to international practice and to South Sudanese laws.
These include the E-Petroleum Accreditation Permit, customs charges, the electronic cargo tracking note, the laboratory test on food rations, and the security escort fee.
“When the transitional government imposes such costs, it is diverting life-saving aid from South Sudanese people in need. It is the obligation of the transitional government to reduce the costs and risks faced by those seeking to provide humanitarian assistance to its people,” the statement said.
The UN mission warns that the move has forced it to scale down operations in South Sudan, including security patrols, as a direct response to the action. UNMISS is also forced to review road repairs, construction of police stations, schools and health centers, as well as reduce support to peace and electoral processes.
The situation also affects the UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei, as its cargo must enter Abyei through South Sudan.
"We have reached an agreement that the blocking of these vehicles is unlawful, and that they should be released as soon as possible," Haysom said.
“However, we remain concerned that our fuel trucks are still being held up at various depots and the border. Until they are released, the UN will not be able to conduct many of its activities in support of vulnerable communities across the country.”
He warned that the impact would be felt far and wide. So far, more than 60,000 people have lost access to health services after the UN halted humanitarian airdrops.
The situation is already critical. The UN and its agencies, funds, and programs are running out of fuel, preventing the delivery of millions of dollars in aid during a severe humanitarian crisis and diverting already stretched donor resources to help the most vulnerable people in the country.
South Sudan relies heavily on the UN for humanitarian assistance. In 2024, an estimated 9 million people in South Sudan require some form of humanitarian assistance. Among those in need are 4.9 million children.
Amos Valerio is the chairman of the Gitikiri farmer's cooperative in Western Equatoria State, which supports local farmers by linking them to a ready market. One of their key markets is the World Food Programme (WFP), which buys produce from local farmers and then distributes the food to millions of South Sudanese in refugee camps across the country.
"The fear we have right now is that if the UN withdraws from South Sudan, we will not have any partner again," Valerio told VOA. “We encourage the government to restore the UN to continue helping farmers and to continue with their activities in South Sudan.”
Louise Wilson Mbiro, a farmer from Gitikiri Boma in Western Equatoria State, said she feared losing her biggest buyer of maize seed.
If WFP leaves, farmers will not be able to sell what they have already produced and what they were going to produce, she said, adding that WFP's presence and support had encouraged farmers to produce more.
Before the UN agency started buying her seeds, Mbiro said life was very difficult and she could only sell one kilogram of maize for 5,000 South Sudanese pounds, which was not helping at all.
But when WFP came, she said, farmers could sell all their produce at once and get money in bulk, something that never happened before. Currently, Mbiro said, she can sell 35 bags and earn 1 million South Sudanese pounds.
South Sudan's Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Albino Akol Atak, has previously said that the imposition of taxes on trucks carrying fuel and other supplies does not apply to UN humanitarian, development and peacekeeping operations, or to the diplomatic community.
Speaking to VOA, Akol Atak said the government is trying to find a way to lift the taxes on the UN.
"We are considering that as the contribution of [the] government of South Sudan to what they [the U.N.] are doing is exempt. Their operations including importation of some humanitarian asserts and any other equipment that are to be used to deliver services to the people of South Sudan.”
The minister said the exemption was part of the government's contribution to humanitarian aid for its people. But the UN has reported that its fuel trucks are still being held up at various depots and at the border.
Unless the vehicles are released, Haysom said in a statement, the UN will suspend most of its activities in South Sudan, including support to vulnerable communities such as refugees.
"While we acknowledge the Government's confirmation of its intention to end the blockade of our trucks, we now need urgent action to get the trucks moving to ensure our support for South Sudan does not grind to a halt," he said.
The United Nations is currently playing a leading role in ensuring stability in South Sudan as the country prepares for its first-ever general elections in December. Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudanese have been working to build their country, the world's youngest nation.
South Sudan's elections were originally scheduled for 2015, four years after the country seceded from Sudan. However, the country's civil war and delays in drafting a constitution forced the election to be postponed several times.
Now, according to the National Elections Act of 2023, voter registration will begin six months before the elections, in June. Elections are scheduled for December 22. For the first time, South Sudanese will have the opportunity to vote for a president, members of parliament, and several state and local offices.
Even before war broke out in neighboring Sudan more than a year ago, years of conflict in South Sudan had created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Soaring rates of severe malnutrition, acute hunger and deteriorating health conditions threaten the lives and well-being of millions of people in the country, exacerbated by extreme weather events linked to the climate crisis.
An estimated 7.1 million people in South Sudan will be food insecure during the lean season from April to July 2024, while 1.6 million children are at risk of malnutrition, including 480,000 at risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
South Sudan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Drought and flooding contribute to food insecurity. In addition, South Sudanese women and girls remain at high risk of gender-based violence (GBV).
The war in Sudan, which erupted on April 15 last year, has also increased the number of vulnerable people in need of assistance. The continued influx of Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees from Sudan, many of whom arrive with no assets and extremely limited coping capacities, continues to put heavy pressure on host communities to share scarce resources.
As of April 21, 2024, more than 650,000 people have crossed the border from Sudan into South Sudan.
Some information for this report provided by VOA.
Further information
Full text: United Nations in South Sudan calls for urgent release of trucks carrying fuel and other critical supplies after Government commits to rescinding tax demands, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), press release, published April 23, 2024
https://unmiss.unmissions.org/united-nations-south-sudan-calls-urgent-release-trucks-carrying-fuel-and-other-critical-supplies
Full text: Joint Statement by the Embassies of Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the U.S.A., statement, published April 21, 2024
https://ss.usembassy.gov/4-21-24-joint-statement/