SOUTH SUDAN
Since December 2017
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Electronic Money Regulation, 2017
According to Art. 15 of the e-money Regulation, the e-money service provider must strictly apply KYC procedures based on a risk-based approach that determines the different risk categories in the application of customer identification; mobile money accounts have been categorised in the following three levels:
- Level 1: basic level accounts with simplified KYC, which are subject to lower transaction limits and limited documentation requirements for account opening. They have a maximum balance limit equal to USD 1.000, a daily transaction limit equal to USD 250, and a monthly transaction limit equal to USD 2.000;
- Tier 2: Partial KYC accounts that have higher limits and stricter account opening requirements. They have a maximum balance limit equivalent to USD 4.000, a daily transaction limit equivalent to USD 1.000, and a monthly transaction limit equivalent to USD 8.000.
- Level 3: accounts with complete KYC requirements. Accounts with full KYC have higher limits for corporate and government payments. They have a maximum balance limit equivalent to USD 10.000, a daily transaction limit equivalent to USD 2.000, and a monthly transaction limit equivalent to USD 20.000.
- Level 1: basic level accounts with simplified KYC, which are subject to lower transaction limits and limited documentation requirements for account opening. They have a maximum balance limit equal to USD 1.000, a daily transaction limit equal to USD 250, and a monthly transaction limit equal to USD 2.000;
- Tier 2: Partial KYC accounts that have higher limits and stricter account opening requirements. They have a maximum balance limit equivalent to USD 4.000, a daily transaction limit equivalent to USD 1.000, and a monthly transaction limit equivalent to USD 8.000.
- Level 3: accounts with complete KYC requirements. Accounts with full KYC have higher limits for corporate and government payments. They have a maximum balance limit equivalent to USD 10.000, a daily transaction limit equivalent to USD 2.000, and a monthly transaction limit equivalent to USD 20.000.
Coverage E-money service providers
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230330163406/http://www.boss.gov.ss/reg/2017/ElectronicMoneyRegulation.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231215160342/https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/ssd_e/wtaccssd6_leg_3.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230217220211/http://www.boss.gov.ss/reg/2017/BankofSouthSudanAMLPolicy.pdf
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SOUTH SUDAN
Reported in 2018, last reported in 2023
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Online payment restrictions
It is reported that the ability to exchange local currency for foreign currency is severely restricted due to South Sudan’s lack of correspondent banking relationships. Some international businesses have complained that the inability to repatriate proceeds has hurt their businesses.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Lack of de minimis threshold
South Sudan does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Indicator Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Lack of participation in agreements with binding commitments on data flows
South Sudan has not joined any agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders. However, South Sudan has been a member of the East African Community EAC since 2016 and is an observer of COMESA.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Framework for data protection
Lack of legal framework for data protection
South Sudan does not have a comprehensive regime of data protection in place.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
Since May 2021
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Cybercrimes and Computer Misuse Provisional Order, 2021
Section 6 of the Cybercrimes and Computer Misuse Provisional Order imposes an obligation on service providers to store for 180 days information relating to communications, including personal data and traffic data of subscribers. A service provider is defined as a public or private entity that provides to users of its services the means to communicate by use of a computer system and any other entity that processes or stores computer data on behalf of that entity or its users (Section 5).
Coverage Online service providers
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230416095836/https://dr.211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Cyber-crimes-and-Computer-Misuse-Provisional-Order.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230926070630/https://www.dataguidance.com/jurisdiction/south-sudan
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220123193116/https://cipesa.org/?wpfb_dl=480
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SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place for copyright infringements
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability for copyright infringement is absent in South Sudan's law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Lack of intermediary liability framework in place beyond copyright infringements
A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in South Sudan's law and jurisprudence.
Coverage Internet intermediaries
SOUTH SUDAN
Reported in 2021, last reported in 2023
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Indicator User identity requirement
Mandatory SIM card registration
It is reported that South Sudan imposes an identity requirement for SIM registration. Anyone wanting to purchase a SIM card has to provide their national ID card or a passport in case of foreigners to activate a new prepaid SIM card.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
Sources
SOUTH SUDAN
Reported in 2021, last reported in 2023
Pillar Content access |
Indicator Blocking or filtering of commercial web content
Blocking of commercial web content
In recent years, there have been several reported cases of web content blocking, illustrating the challenge of restricted access to online platforms. In late June 2020, Sudan's Post publicly announced that government authorities had blocked access to its content. In August 2021, it was noted that Facebook and WhatsApp faced restrictions ahead of planned protests, underscoring the ongoing issue of online content limitations. Moreover, it is reported the government’s South Sudan National Communication Authority at times blocked access to certain websites in 2023, such as two popular news websites, Radio Tamazuj and Sudans Post, as well as social media personalities and other online news generators.
Coverage Media outlets, blogs and social media
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240423144745/https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/south-sudan/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231226211923/https://ooni.org/post/south-sudan-censorship/#blocked-websites
- https://web.archive.org/web/20210117144939/https://www.nyamile.com/2020/08/17/swedish-group-says-silent-media-blocking-continue-in-south-sudan/
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SOUTH SUDAN
Reported in 2025
Pillar Content access |
Indicator Presence of Internet shutdowns
Presence of Internet shutdowns
The indicator "7.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 1 in South Sudan for the year 2024. This corresponds to "The government shut down domestic access to the Internet numerous times this year."
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
Since June 2012
Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
National Communication Act, 2012
Sections 28-30 of the National Communication Act restrict the use, import or trade of any communication equipment or materials except under a licence issued by the Authority.
Coverage Communication equipment
SOUTH SUDAN
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Lack of independent telecom authority
South Sudan has a telecommunications authority: The National Communication Authority. However, it is reported that this entity is not fully independent.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
SOUTH SUDAN
Since February 2012
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Indicator Nationality/residency requirement for directors or managers
The Companies Act, 2012
Section 241 of the Companies Act mandates that at least one director of the company should be a resident of South Sudan.
Coverage Horizontal
SOUTH SUDAN
Since June 2012, last amended in 2023
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Indicator Ban to transfer and local processing requirement
Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2023
Pursuant to Section 84 of the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act, all financial ledgers, as well as ancillary financial and non-financial records maintained by banking institutions, are required to be preserved within the territorial jurisdiction of South Sudan.
Coverage Financial sector
