South Sudanese mobile money provider DigiCash and business development organisation Inkomoko launched a partnership on Friday to expand access to digital financial services for thousands of small businesses, as the country grapples with chronic cash shortages and limited access to banking services.
The partnership will allow entrepreneurs to use mobile wallets to receive loans, make payments and transfer money electronically, reducing reliance on cash in an economy where liquidity shortages frequently leave bank customers unable to access funds.
“We came into existence to break the digital divide, and financial inclusion is part of that mission,” said De Chan Awuol, executive vice president of Digital Holding, DigiCash’s parent company.
Awuol said the platform would enable users to receive and transfer money through mobile phones, reducing the risks associated with carrying cash in a country where insecurity and poor transport infrastructure often complicate financial transactions.
To address concerns over liquidity, he said DigiCash had established more than 3,000 retail outlets across South Sudan where customers can withdraw cash from their mobile wallets.
“We have learned from the challenges that previous mobile money operators faced,” Awuol said. “If you have money in your mobile wallet, you can access cash through our outlets across the country.”
The initiative will initially target about 2,800 businesses in Juba and Bor this year, according to William Ngabozinza, Inkomoko’s country director in South Sudan.
Inkomoko, which provides financing and business training, currently supports about 5,400 entrepreneurs and aims to reach 11,000 clients by the end of 2026.
Ngabozinza said women account for 70% of the organisation’s clients and that digital payments could help them access and manage loans more securely.
“We are not only providing access to finance,” he said. “We also train entrepreneurs on record-keeping, managing loans and growing their businesses.”
The partners said the programme would help businesses in remote areas receive funds and pay suppliers without travelling long distances, potentially reducing transport costs and security risks.
Questions raised during the launch focused on fraud prevention, digital literacy and the regulatory framework governing mobile money services.
Awuol said DigiCash operates under regulations issued by the Bank of South Sudan and that customers are protected under existing financial laws.
The company said its services are accessible on basic mobile phones through USSD technology and include Arabic-language support to reach users with limited English literacy.
Martin Oluoch, DigiCash’s chief operations manager, said transaction limits are set by the central bank according to customer verification levels. Customers in the highest verification category can transact up to the equivalent of $2,000 per day and $10,000 per month, he said.
The partnership forms part of broader efforts to expand digital financial services in South Sudan, where much of the population remains outside the formal banking sector and cash continues to dominate commercial transactions.
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