The Bank of South Sudan on Saturday inaugurated a new currency centre in the Lakes State capital, Rumbek, as part of efforts to decentralize financial operations and reduce the risks of moving money across the country.
The opening was attended by senior officials including Finance Minister Athian Diing Athian, Central Bank Governor Addis Ababa Othow, Lakes State Governor Rin Tueny Mabor, and Bruno Thiritho, chair of the South Sudan Bankers Association and General Manager of Ivory Bank.
The facility will serve as a regional hub for issuing, distributing, and processing banknotes, aiming to cut the high cost and security risks of transporting cash from Juba to the country’s remote regions.
“This new currency centre will ease the preparation and flow of cash by removing the logistical burden of moving money from Juba to Rumbek,” said Thiritho.
The launch comes amid a severe liquidity crunch in South Sudan’s banking system, which has forced commercial lenders to cap daily withdrawals at less than 50,000 South Sudanese Pounds per client.
Central Bank Governor Othow said the Rumbek centre would “improve currency distribution more effectively and efficiently” and support “financial inclusion and accessibility” across the country. He added that up to 100% of the facility’s unclassified staff would be hired locally through an open recruitment process.
Finance Minister Athian said the government was working to reinforce the use of the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) in all transactions to stabilize the economy.
“The ministry of finance and the central bank are working closely to ensure all institutions and businesses transact in our national currency to protect the economy,” he said.
The central bank did not disclose the cost of constructing the Rumbek facility.
Officials framed the new centre as a sign of progress after years of conflict and economic turmoil.
“This achievement is a testament to the peace, stability, and visionary leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” Governor Othow said.
Lakes State Governor Mabor said the project, first proposed in 2013, was only now realized because of improved stability.
“We have this facility because we have peace,” he said. “It is a real sign of development. This belongs to us, and we must protect it.”
Branch manager Deng Ngor said the centre had received strong support from the local government and community, adding it would enhance financial access and economic activity in the state.
Despite the milestone, Thiritho noted that the banking sector still faced challenges, including limited access to cash from the central bank and the absence of a foreign currency clearing house—a reform she said should follow next.
