South Sudan: the SSRA e-tax portal and Crawford Capital

Last checked: 20 October 2026 · Countries

South Sudan set up an e-tax portal in 2021 ¹. A private firm, Crawford Capital Ltd, provides digital payment and e-service systems used for government revenue ^6,9. A UN commission said in September 2025 that Crawford retains a 75 per cent profit share of taxes it collects ². On 12 May 2026 the US State Department announced visa restrictions and named Crawford Capital in its release ³. The ICT ministry and the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) defended their work with the company ^5,6.

Revenue authority: South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) ¹⁰
E-tax portal set up: 2021, according to the World Bank ¹
Technology provider: Crawford Capital Ltd, as reported by Eye Radio ^6,9
Legal basis cited by officials: Council of Ministers Resolution No. 34/2024 and Presidential Republican Order No. 35/2025, as reported by Eye Radio ⁷
Platform fee (company statement): 2% for maintenance and related services ⁹
Monthly collections (SSRA): About SSP 130 billion, as reported by Eye Radio on 14 May 2026 ⁶

The system and who runs it

A World Bank digital economy assessment, marked 2022, refers to "the recent (2021) set-up of the e-tax portal". It says the portal is estimated to have raised revenue collection by three-fold since the switch from a manual to a digital system ¹. The same report says a government e-services portal covers services such as e-visa and e-tax. It lists Crawford Capital among new foreign-owned ICT businesses in the country ¹.

Eye Radio reported on 6 March 2026 that the Crawford engagement rests on Council of Ministers Resolution No. 34/2024. A parliamentary committee cited Presidential Republican Order No. 35/2025, which mandates use of the SSRA e-government revenue system ⁷. The SSRA website is the official entry point for the authority ¹⁰.

How the system is paid for

In a statement reported by Eye Radio on 22 June 2026, Crawford Capital said it "builds and operates digital platforms for government institutions under contract" ⁹. It said its 2% platform fee covers system maintenance, cybersecurity and related services, and that "The platform fee is not a share of government revenue" ⁹.

The company said a 75/25 split applied only to a separate US$15 convenience charge on some digital services, such as eVisa applications. It said "Government revenue flows directly to government accounts" ⁹. The UN commission gave a different account, set out below ².

UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

The commission published conference room paper A/HRC/60/CRP.5, titled Plundering a Nation, on 16 September 2025 ². Paragraph 23(e) reads: "A politically-connected company, Crawford Capital Ltd., captures an inordinate share of non-oil revenues through irregular government 'e-services'. Under a 2019 agreement, Crawford retains a 75 per cent profit share of taxes it collects, an arrangement extended in 2024 to an unlawful levy applied to tax-exempt humanitarian agencies, that forced the suspension of critical food aid." ²

Paragraph 24 reads: "The South Sudan Revenue Authority has been complicit in Crawford's schemes and is implicated in additional diversions of non-oil revenues, in clear violation of articles 9 and 10 of the UN Convention against Corruption." ²

Trade ministry suspension, March 2026

In a memo dated 5 March 2026 the Ministry of Trade and Industry, under minister Atong Kuol Manyang, ordered a 90-day administrative and technical review of the Crawford Capital digital payment and e-service system, as reported by Eye Radio ⁷. The memo cited limited network connectivity and staff training gaps. During the review the SSRA was to keep collecting licence fees through existing forms ⁷.

Vice President James Wani Igga wrote to the minister on 6 March 2026. He said a Council of Ministers resolution cannot be reversed by a single ministerial directive and advised her to consult the Ministry of Justice ⁷. Eye Radio reported on 14 March 2026 that the minister cancelled the 90-day pause and revoked the review after his intervention ⁸.

US State Department action, 12 May 2026

On 12 May 2026 the State Department announced targeted visa restrictions under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on members of the transitional government. The statement, signed by spokesperson Tommy Pigott, did not name the individuals ³.

Radio Tamazuj quoted the release as saying: "Numerous well-respected investigative bodies have documented how corrupt officials and entities, including Crawford Capital, Ltd., have siphoned money from South Sudan's treasury and stolen foreign assistance funds intended to support the South Sudanese people" ³. Anadolu Agency reported the same passage with the words "have allegedly looted state funds" ⁴. Eye Radio described the measures as "sanctions announced by the United States Department of State against Crawford Capital Ltd" ⁶.

Government responses

On 13 May 2026 the ICT ministry said it "affirms its official engagement with Crawford Capital Ltd." and that the work followed institutional procedures, as reported by Eye Radio ⁵.

On 14 May 2026 the SSRA said all engagements with the company were conducted lawfully and transparently ⁶. The SSRA said monthly collections had reached about SSP 130 billion and that nearly SSP 1 trillion was collected over the past eight months, as reported by Eye Radio ⁶. Crawford Capital rejected claims of revenue diversion in its 22 June 2026 statement ⁹.

Common questions

Who built South Sudan's e-tax system?

Eye Radio reports that Crawford Capital Ltd provided the digital payment system and technical support to the SSRA ⁶. The World Bank lists Crawford Capital as an ICT business in South Sudan ¹.

What did the UN say about Crawford Capital?

The UN commission said in A/HRC/60/CRP.5 that under a 2019 agreement Crawford retains a 75 per cent profit share of taxes it collects ².

Did the US sanction Crawford Capital?

The State Department release announced visa restrictions under INA Section 212(a)(3)(C) and named Crawford Capital ³. Eye Radio described the action as sanctions ⁶.

What fee does Crawford Capital say it charges?

The company said it charges a 2% platform fee and splits a separate US$15 convenience charge 75/25 ⁹.

How much does the SSRA say it collects?

The SSRA said monthly collections reached about SSP 130 billion, as reported by Eye Radio on 14 May 2026 ⁶.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email hello@revenuedigitisation.org with the official link.

Sources

How governments digitise the collection of taxes, fees and levies
The three main models for digital revenue collection, examples from Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan, and what IMF and World Bank material says.
Kenya: iTax, eCitizen and government digital payments
How Kenya collects taxes through KRA iTax and fees through eCitizen, who operates eCitizen, the KSh 50 convenience fee and the Auditor-General's audit.
Rwanda: IremboGov, the Irembo partnership and RRA e-Tax
How Rwanda runs IremboGov through a 25-year public-private partnership, what services cost, and how RRA e-Tax handles tax declarations.
Tanzania: the Government e-Payment Gateway (GePG) and TRA systems
How Tanzania's Government e-Payment Gateway works, its legal basis, control numbers, payment channels and the Tanzania Revenue Authority's online systems.