A key parliamentary committee has asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry to reverse its decision to suspend the operations of Crawford Capital, a company that runs a government-linked digital payment system, warning the move could undermine national revenue collection.
In a letter dated March 6 and seen by Radio Tamazuj, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Trade and Industry expressed “serious concerns” over a ministerial memo issued a day earlier ordering a 90-day administrative and technical review of the company’s digital payment and e-service system.
Committee chairperson Mayen Deng Alier urged Trade and Industry Minister Atong Kuol Manyang to reconsider the decision, noting that a 2025 presidential order mandated the use of the South Sudan Revenue Authority’s e-government system.
“The committee hereby respectfully asks your esteemed office to immediately reconsider this decision,” Alier wrote, citing directives from the revenue authority calling for the “total abolition of manual revenue collection.”
Lawmakers also asked the ministry to provide technical justifications and documentation for the suspension. The committee said it plans to convene a joint meeting involving the ministry, the revenue authority and the service provider to ensure the review does not disrupt government revenues.
Vice President James Wani Igga has also intervened, issuing a letter overruling the minister’s directive. Igga said the company’s engagement followed a collective government decision by the Economic Cluster that was formalized through Resolution No. 34/2024 of the Council of Ministers.
Trade Minister Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk ordered the review on March 5, citing operational problems including connectivity issues and staff training gaps that she said were affecting service delivery.
The dispute comes amid broader concerns raised by watchdogs over digital revenue collection systems in South Sudan. While authorities say the platforms are part of efforts to modernize public services and improve transparency, investigators have questioned how companies were selected and where the fees they collect ultimately go.
Reports submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council have warned about “politically connected companies” involved in digital revenue collection in the country. Some firms operate electronic gateways that charge mandatory fees on imports and exports, which critics say bypass the central treasury.
Crawford Capital is linked to the CapitalPay platform, which also manages accreditation permits for crude oil buyers and fuel trucks.
CapitalPay’s ownership has drawn scrutiny. The platform is widely believed to be linked to Adut Salva Kiir, the daughter of President Salva Kiir. Previous U.N. investigations say Crawford Capital Ltd. was formed by Garang Mayom Kuoc Malek, who owns 68% of the company and 61.2% of CapitalPay, and Ruey Majok Guandong.
A recent investigation by Radio Tamazuj found that international crude oil traders were required to pay accreditation fees to Crawford-linked accounts, a system the United Nations has described as part of a “predatory” economic structure.
There is also no publicly available record of a competitive tender process for the digital services contract awarded to Crawford Capital, despite requirements under South Sudan’s Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act of 2018.