Caretaker finance minister calls for evidence-based policies to address liquidity crisis

South Sudan’s National Caretaker Minister of Finance and Planning, Athian Diing Athian, is calling for institutional collaboration and evidence-based policies to address the country’s liquidity crisis.

Athian made the remarks yesterday in Juba during a national policy workshop examining the causes and impact of the liquidity crisis and possible policy and institutional reforms.

He said addressing the crisis requires coordinated action between the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of South Sudan and other stakeholders, with policies based on evidence and economic data.

“No single institution can resolve the liquidity challenges alone. We must all commit to finishing this together in order to regain lost confidence. The Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Bank of South Sudan and all partners must work collaboratively to formulate evidence-based policies that will lead to reforms and economic recovery.”

In practice, evidence-based policymaking would involve using information on cash circulation, demand for money, financial-sector conditions and other economic indicators to identify the causes of the liquidity shortage and guide policy responses.

Athian also called for stronger digital payment systems, saying reducing reliance on physical cash could ease pressure on cash demand and improve the movement of money within the economy.

“South Sudan’s economy cannot depend solely on physical cash. A secure, accessible and efficient digital payment infrastructure can reduce pressure on cash demand, improve the movement of money across the economy, expand financial inclusion, and make transactions safer and more transparent.”

He said digital financial services should be accessible to people in both urban and rural areas to strengthen public confidence in the formal financial system.

The one-day workshop, held at the Bank of South Sudan, brought together government officials, financial-sector stakeholders and other institutions involved in economic management.

It was conducted under the theme, “Understanding and Solving Liquidity Crisis: Diagnosis, Policy Options and Institutional Reforms.”

The discussions are expected to produce policy recommendations aimed at improving cash circulation, strengthening financial institutions and restoring confidence in South Sudan’s financial system.