Crawford Capital Ltd responds to allegations on digital services to govt
Crawford Capital Ltd has issued a detailed response to public allegations concerning its role in the digitalisation of government services and revenue collection systems in South Sudan, including claims relating to revenue diversion, service fee structures, trust accounts, and procurement processes.
The company said it rejects the allegations and maintains that all its operations are defined by formal agreements with government institutions, supported by system records, account documentation, and remittance data.
Crawford_Press_Release_Short_22 June 2026 described itself as a technology and software engineering company that builds and operates digital platforms for government institutions under contract. It said it does not set taxes, allocate public funds, or exercise any statutory government authority.
The company cited publicly reported South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) figures showing that monthly non-oil revenue collections rose from approximately US$648,000 to about US$28 million between 2020 and 2025, describing this as a reported increase of more than 4,000 percent.
“Digital systems are designed to strengthen transparency, reduce leakage, and improve efficiency in collection processes. The revenue uplift being referenced is a reflection of system-wide digitisation across government institutions, not a transfer of government authority to any private entity,” the company said.
Crawford Capital Ltd said its 2 percent platform service fee covers infrastructure maintenance, cybersecurity, system upgrades, reconciliation services, and operational support.
“The platform fee is not a share of government revenue. It is a contractual service fee for operating and maintaining the digital infrastructure that enables government agencies to collect revenue more efficiently and securely,” the company said.
The company also addressed claims that it retained government revenue, stating that this interpretation is incorrect. It said a 75 percent to 25 percent split applied only to a separate US$15 convenience fee charged on selected digitised services such as eVisa applications, and not to taxes, levies, or statutory government charges.
“Government revenue flows directly to government accounts. The convenience fee is a distinct service charge tied to digital access and user processing. Conflating the two creates a fundamentally inaccurate representation of the financial structure,” it said.
On allegations concerning trust or collection accounts, Crawford Capital Ltd said the claims misrepresent regulated financial mechanisms under South Sudan law.
“The accounts used in the system are regulated trust accounts governed by the Electronic Money Regulation, 2017. These accounts are not private operating accounts. They are legally structured, ring-fenced accounts held in commercial banks, subject to reconciliation, audit, and oversight by the Bank of South Sudan,” the company said.
It added that the existence of such accounts should not be interpreted as evidence of fund diversion.
“Every transaction is traceable through bank records, system logs, and reconciliation reports. Allegations of misappropriation ignore the regulatory framework that governs electronic money operations in South Sudan,” it said.
Crawford Capital Ltd also addressed procurement concerns, stating that all procurement approvals are handled by government institutions under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act, 2018.
“We do not participate in procurement decision-making. Our role begins only after government institutions have completed their internal approval processes. The assertion that we control procurement is factually incorrect,” the company said.
The company reiterated that it functions solely as a technology provider and does not control or spend public funds.
“All revenue collected through our platforms remains government revenue. It is managed by the relevant institutions in accordance with law. We are service providers, not custodians of public funds,” it said.
Crawford Capital Ltd said it remains committed to supporting South Sudan’s digital transformation agenda and welcomed scrutiny based on verifiable documentation.
“Transparency is best served through evidence-based review of contracts, system records, and financial reconciliation data. We stand ready for that process,” the company said.
