South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry Seeks Fivefold Budget Increase to Sustain Embassies Abroad

South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally requested a significant expansion of its budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year, proposing a nearly fivefold increase to address critical funding shortfalls affecting diplomatic missions abroad.‎‎

According to draft budget estimates seen by the media, the ministry is seeking 259.2 billion South Sudanese pounds (SSP) a sharp rise from the 55.1 billion SSP allocated in the previous 2024/25 budget cycle.

‎‎Funding Gap Threatens Embassy Operations‎

Officials within the ministry warn that chronic underfunding has left South Sudan’s embassies struggling to meet basic operational needs, including paying staff salaries, covering rental costs, and financing day-to-day activities. ‎

According to the draft figures, actual expenditure last year ballooned to 243.4 billion SSP, more than four times the originally approved budget, highlighting a significant gap between allocated and required funding.

‎‎Under the proposed budget, 252.4 billion SSP the bulk of the funds is designated for wages and salaries. Of this, 234.8 billion SSP is earmarked for incentives and overtime, with only 16.7 billion SSP allocated to basic pay.

‎The ministry has also set aside 6.2 billion SSP for general goods and services and roughly 629.5 million South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) for capital expenditures including vehicles and equipment for foreign missions.

‎‎Staffing Shortages and Vacancies‎

Budget documents indicate substantial staffing challenges at the ministry, with a 35 percent vacancy rate reported across its departments. ‎Only 1,252 of 1,938 approved positions are currently filled, with the Foreign Relations and International Cooperation directorate particularly affected only 353 out of 719 posts are occupied.‎‎

Parliamentary Review Pending‎The 2025/26 national budget process is still underway, and the foreign ministry’s request must be reviewed and approved by South Sudan’s parliament. ‎

How lawmakers will respond to the ministry’s appeal remains to be seen, particularly amid broader fiscal constraints facing the government.