South Sudan’s decision on transit goods benefits all, says SSRA Commissioner General

South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) Commissioner General Simon Akuei Deng said there is an urgent need for the East African Community (EAC) member states to have a system that works as one.

He said despite each member state having its own different system of management there is need for a system of communication on data management and data sharing.

“At the end of the day the aggregate is on revenue collection,” he said.

Deng acknowledged they have a system which urgently needed to be integrated within the EAC regional  system.

He was addressing a press briefing at the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA] in Nyali constituency, Mombasa county.

The visiting SSRA Commissioner told the media there is a system in the process of implementation to raise an invoice in Mombasa.

Deng clarified that this is to allow the payment to be done in South Sudan, downplaying what they plan to do.

He sought to put the record straight saying EAC member states have a system in Mombasa and his country has to follow the footsteps.

“We want to bring down the origination of the invoice in Mombasa despite coming from different countries to be able to tap into the EAC system,” he pointed out.

The SSRA Commissioner General defended his  government over the recent directive on transit cargo and goods destined for their country.

Deng refuted claims they are collecting their taxes in Mombasa or in Kenya.

He pointed out that the tax is being collected in South Sudan only upon the invoice of  the transit cargo and goods  destined for their country.

“We are reacting  to complaints by the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing over cargo stuck at the port of Mombasa and at various Container Freight Stations [CFS],” he pointed out.

The SSRA Commissioner General said the main aim of the recent directive by the Sudanese government that taxes should be paid for all goods and cargo on transit to the country before being released in Mombasa is to end fraud and fake invoices being generated which is against international standards.

Deng pointed out their  government’s directive  is to avert diversion of goods to other countries for regional interest.

He further pointed that they want a system which can control trucks, goods and cargo while being imported to their country of destination.

“We want to end  the culture of  goods and cargo being vandalised in the region for the common good and there is no hidden agenda,” he disclosed.

The SSRA Commissioner General told the media their government has no intention of collecting taxes in Mombasa or in Kenya but only wants  invoicing done with an agenda to clear cargo and goods.

Deng told the media all of their taxes will be paid at Nimule border of South Sudan and not in Kenya alleged.

He appealed to stakeholders to support South Sudan’s directive and new measures instead of resisting them.

“We are asking for compliance with the new system and for the   stakeholders to end squabbling as they are not the only country in the region with the system,” he said.

He assured the media their country’s directive aims at ending fraud in transit consignments meant for their country.