Fuel Tax Hinders Relief Efforts in Hunger-Stricken South Sudan

United Nations fuel tankers are being obstructed by South Sudanese authorities due to a tax dispute, posing a threat to the delivery of millions of dollars worth of aid amidst a humanitarian crisis, the U.N. mission in the country has disclosed.

Despite assurances from the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs just a day prior that a newly imposed tax on trucks transporting fuel and supplies would not affect U.N. humanitarian operations, the tankers were held up at depots and the Ugandan border on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for the mission.

The recent directive from the trade ministry introduced a $300 levy on every goods truck entering and leaving the nation, aimed at bolstering government revenue collection by addressing undervaluations and fraud.

South Sudan is grappling with one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises due to ongoing conflict, natural disasters, and widespread poverty.

In the face of this crisis, the United Nations projected that approximately 7.1 million of the country’s 12.4 million population would face crisis-level hunger during the lean season from April to July.

Priyanka Chowdhury, acting spokesperson for the U.N. mission, known as UNMISS, confirmed that the fuel tankers remain detained, with the mission actively engaging at the highest levels to resolve the situation.

The ramifications of the tax dispute are far-reaching, as humanitarian airdrops have been suspended, affecting 60,000 vulnerable individuals. Additionally, UNMISS has been compelled to reassess peacekeeping patrols and scale back support for peace and electoral processes, the mission stated.

The imposition of the tax on U.N. and other aid operations has sparked widespread condemnation, with traders and organisations protesting the measure and diplomatic missions, denouncing it as “illicit and unacceptable” in a joint statement issued on Sunday.

Melissa Enoch

Follow us on: