South Sudan, Kenya ink MoU on customs collaboration

South Sudan Revenue Authority and its Kenyan counterpart have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on customs cooperation to economic related-curb transboundary crimes and ease trade between the two countries.

The two institutions signed an open-ended agreement on Monday, October 21, 2024, in Juba.

It covers areas such as mutual assistance in information exchange, digital transformation, combating contraband smuggling, capacity building, and supporting cross-border trade.

In his remarks during the signing ceremony, Kenyan Revenue boss, General Humphrey Wattanga said “The agreement will enable both institutions to pool resources, share intelligence and coordinate actions to address transnational challenges.”

Mr Wattange said the deal will “strengthen collaboration with the law enforcement agencies and international partners which he describes as key in disrupting smuggling networks and bringing perpetrators to justice.”

According to the KRA head, the agreement opens up training opportunities for South Sudan revenue officers at the Institute of Kenya Revenue Authority, among other places.

South Sudan National Revenue Authority Commissioner General Africano Mande Gedima describes the Memorandum of Understanding as a critical framework that will pave the way for deeper engagements with the Kenya Revenue Authority.

He said South Sudan expects to tap into the skills, knowledge and expertise of the Kenya Revenue Authority.

Mande also hopes the instrument will assist the South Sudan Revenue Authority in addressing the multiple challenges to its Customs operations at the Port of Mombasa, especially during the transit of cargo destined for South Sudan.

According to him, cargo destined for South Sudan was often held or delayed by unauthorized actors with customs bond documents tempered with and specifics altered.

In some cases, he said cargoes were diverted, misdirected and above all under-declared.

“We expect that the operationalization of this Memorandum of Understanding will not only mitigate the obvious existing challenges but enhance Customs operations and management to facilitate trade, increase customs revenues and also account for all cargo destined to South Sudan or on transit through South Sudan to parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Sudan”, he said.

Another area of cooperation, Mande said is the enhancement of its digital capabilities due to what he terms as increasing complexities and challenges in Customs Revenue operations.

“There is a dire need for digital integration with regional and international bodies and interoperability between government functions and institutions given the sheer fact that many government businesses and operations are shifting more and more to digital spaces.

“The management of South Sudan Revenue Authority therefore expects that this Memorandum of Understanding will help South Sudan Revenue Authority to complete the circle of digitalization of Customs operations and management by digitally interfacing with Kenya Revenue Authority,” he added.

According to the NRA boss, the Memorandum of Understanding is not a substitute to or a replacement of the existing multilateral engagements within the East Africa Community or other organizations such as the African Tax Administration Forum etc.

But the deal he says, is motivated by the fact that Kenya provides the Republic of South Sudan with an important port of entry and exit for goods to come in and exit from.