A South Sudanese civil society coalition has called on the Bank of South Sudan to resolve a labour dispute through dialogue, saying the central bank’s decision to dissolve the workers’ union was unlawful.
The National Civil Society Coalition (NCSC), an umbrella group of grassroots networks, said in a statement on Tuesday that the Bank of South Sudan Workers’ Trade Union began a sit-in strike on July 7 after employees sought to have grievances addressed through what the coalition described as “legally stipulated civil disobedient means.”
The coalition criticised the bank’s decision to dissolve the union indefinitely, arguing it lacks legal basis.
“This dissolution is, however, unprocedural and inconsistent with the legal instrument that guides the regulation of the union, such as the Workers’ Trade Union Act, 2013,” the statement read in part.
The NCSC said authority to dissolve a trade union rests with the union itself, together with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and not with the employer.
The coalition warned that the move risks”suppressing constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and association” and “sets a bad precedent” that could encourage self-censorship across the country.
It appealed to Governor Johnny Ohisa Damian to pursue dialogue with the workers.
“We are certain that this approach will resolve the underlying grievances of the union and reconcile the two institutions,” the coalition added.
The dissolution was announced in Administrative Order No. 12/BoSS/OG/2026, signed by Damian on July 8, which cited an illegal general assembly and incitement of the strike. The order invoked Section 26(1) of the Bank of South Sudan Act, as amended in 2023.
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