According to the prominent businessman, various companies have petitioned South Sudan to the East African Curt of Justice over failure to pay back debts, with the intention of recovering their dues

By Chuol Chanyong

Prominent local businessman and chairperson of the South Sudan Employers’ Federation, Ayii Duang Ayii has warned that the government could lose vital properties and assets if it does not commit to pay its debts.

Speaking at a press conference in Juba on Sunday, Ayii Duang said that some companies that had previously supplied or done business with South Sudan government have petitioned the country to the East African Court of Justice after the government failed to honour its commitments within the agreed timelines.

He stated that he had previously intervened in the arbitration process to avert the regional court process in respect to President Salva Kiir’s position as East African Community head of summit at the time, with the hope that the government would honour the agreements.  However, his hands are now tied as the government has failed to honour its pledges, he explained.

“We are not against our country. This is why we temporarily suspended the proceedings when the President of the Republic was heading the  East African community. But today, we no longer have options except for the implementation of the decision. The creditors demand their rights, and we cannot stop them anymore,” Duang said.

He revealed that several companies, including suppliers of consumables and fuel products, are demanding the government dues amounting to more than 700 million US dollars. The companies, he said, have obtained orders from the South Sudan Courts and the East African Court of Justice.

Some of the companies may soon make the legal move, and take on government assets to recover their debts, he added.

“The companies are now demanding that they are either paid their dues or they recover them by seizing key government assets,” he said, revealing that foreign airline companies that supply aircraft, commodity firms and fuel companies are among the main creditors.

Further, Duang called on the South Sudan Prisons Services to vacate his property, the Modern Medicine Hospital and the South Sudan Park and Hotel, which the state agency has reportedly seized for years even after receiving court orders to quit.

On recovering the country from the current economic crisis, Duang advised on the need to enhance cooperation between the private and public sectors. “We are partners in building the country, and the role of the private sector cannot be ignored at this stage.”

Piles of companies’ unpaid dues

The businessman, on his part, has had cycles of engagements with the government over unpaid dues. Currently his entity, the South Sudan Foundation for Reconstruction and Development, is under immense  pressure from foreign companies including suppliers of aircraft and services that are demanding accrued debts. This, he says, has forced him to demand the South Sudan government to pay him his debts amounting to more than USD700 million.