By Correspondent

The Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel convened a consultative meeting with a delegation from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), led by its Executive Director, Dr. Abraham Telar Nicknora.

The meeting focused on advancing national efforts to combat financial crimes, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit financial activities that threaten South Sudan’s economic growth and stability.

According to a statement from the office of the Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. Telar provided a comprehensive briefing on the FIU’s mandate in preserving the integrity of the country’s financial system and ensuring compliance with fiscal regulations.

The Vice President emphasized on the importance of aligning with international standards, and tasked the FIU with strengthening global cooperation and enhancing its engagement with domestic institutions to support South Sudan’s integration into the international financial system.

Dr. Bol Mel also called on all government entities and private sector actors to extend full cooperation to the FIU and strictly adhere to the Government’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing policies. Failure to comply will result in legal consequences as provided for under South Sudanese law, he said.

Meanwhile, the vice president stated the damaging impact of tax evasion, cross-border cash smuggling, and black-market foreign exchange trading, noting that such activities erode national revenue, weaken investor confidence, and harm the country’s global standing.

He reaffirmed his full support for the FIU’s mandate and expressed confidence in its ability to advance the Government’s broader economic reform agenda.

President Salva Kiir’s administration has remained steadfast in its commitment to protecting the nation’s economic future, built on integrity, transparency, and shared prosperity for the people of South Sudan.