Progressive Mind for the South Sudan Director General of Customs Department Gen. Dr. Akol Ayii Madut (PhD)

(File Image)

By: Deng Emmillo Mou, Juba-South Sudan

We are confident that your support will successfully steer the administration of Dr. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of Republic of South Sudan to the end of his 1st and 100th terms by the special grace of God and continue to play a constructive role in the Nation. As you know, we are facing a number of crucial challenges particularly in the economic sector, we pray that you join hands according to God’s plan with department of customs Directors General of Sudan and with our God's Chosen President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, our flag-bearer to solve problems that will bring about positive impact to our dear Country.

The customs departments of South Sudan and Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Juba-South Sudan to harmonize taxation policies in the Country and the proper movement of goods between the two sisterly countries in anticipation of the resumption of trade between the two countries South Sudan and Sudan.

The deal was inked by the department of Custom Directors General of Sudan and South Sudan, Bashir Al-Tahir and Gen. Dr. Akol Ayii Madut (PhD) respectively and provides for policies and the best practices to regulate and harmonize revenue collection along the border of the two countries. It also provides for knowledge exchange between the two countries for the management and efficient handling of collected revenues.

Speaking to the press after signing of the memorandum, the head of the customs department at the South Sudan National Revenue Authority (SSD-NRA), Gen. Akol Ayii Madut, expressed that the memorandum of understanding was a prerequisite for the resumption of cross-border trade between the two countries.

This memorandum of understanding MoU is going to assist because you cannot reopen the border without reaching an agreement with customs because the way of collecting taxes at the borders will be different, if we harmonize the customs of Sudan and South Sudan, it is going to ease the movement of goods, tariffs and the tax policy which we will be using.

So, prior to the reopening of the borders, we are preparing because anytime this year the border will be reopen and some goods are already coming from Sudan illegally so it is better to reopen the border so that we can all get revenue.

According to the deal, South Sudanese customs officials will also go to Khartoum and Port Sudan for training.   

The Director-General of Sudan Customs, Bashir Al-Tahir Bashir, who signed the document on behalf of Sudan-Khartoum Government, reiterated his government’s commitment to implementing all the provisions of the agreement to boost bilateral trade between the sisterly countries.

This is the historic day for the new beginning of relations between South Sudan and Sudan customs, and is very important for the economic, political, and security relations between the two countries. We are committed to implementing all the provisions of the agreement urgently to boost trade between the two countries.

Prior to the signing of the memorandum, the Commissioner-General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSD-NRA), Dr. Patrick Mugoya, put his comment that he expected the agreement to increase South Sudan’s non-oil revenue.

This fundamental change in the mandate of customs in the Republic of South Sudan, with instruments like the memorandum of understanding MoU between South Sudan and Sudan, to me is a sufficient tool to enable South Sudan Customs to increase customs revenue from the current less than SSP 1.5 billion to SSP 6 billion per month.

Partnership is a powerful asset to any social, economic, political and religious change institution. However, the relationship of a representative with local actors and National, faith based Government institutions, organizations, cooperatives, diaspora groups and NGO's is requisite as collaboration with them can stimulate evolution in Education, economy growth and Infrastructure beyond the limited resources of government.

It is worthy to note that Dr. Akol Ayii Madut (PhD) has affirmed that within the scope of South Sudan Custom institution he was partnered with progressive institutions to accelerate development and promote innovation in South Sudan Custom institution perfectly.

Thus, he has demonstrated capacity to mobilize resources across and to signs the memorandum of understanding between the two countries it's beyond previous systems of South Sudan National Revenue Authority (SSD-NRA) and South Sudan Custom Department (SSD-CD) to foster human development, empowerment, innovation economy growth and Infrastructural growth which will bring South Sudan to the limelight.

Leadership must be visionary, it must be knowledgeable and must have the courage to do what is right. It also requires certain skills but being able to implement them will require knowledge.

People reserve the right to put in place the kind of leadership they want, people need to understand that leadership must be visionary to achieve the goal of Nation building. A knowledgeable leadership would discharge its functions accordingly.

Dr. Akol Ayii Madut is a great leader, visionary and knowledgeable and has a plan for the future generation. Only visionary and knowledgeable leaders attract and will attract elites and will have broader horizons.

God is a wonderful being and at times He gifts a person of rare leadership traits and very rare ability to manage people, a very rare capacity and know how to manage public and the South Sudan Custom department affairs.

The one we have of such a person is Gen. Akol Ayii Madut is a great leader with a strong and decisive approach to issues and also humble.

Many political pundits have severally described his as a pragmatic, a magnet that moves both friends and foes in to his enchanting orbit, a man whose flame and fame continues to illuminate,  a pan South Sudanese, a true nationalist and Human Resource manager strategist (HRMS) of no mean standing.

Gen. Akol Ayii Madut is a South Sudanese's gift to the Country, an epitome of humility, good leadership and positive virtues.

He knows the basics, he has the will and drive, he has the basic understanding of what the Nation and its people need.

It is vital that Gen. Akol Ayii Madut his department supports the President Dr. Salva Kiir Mayardit as he has proven potentials and competence to be implementing the South Sudan Revitalized Peace Agreement for the representative security in the Country.

We look forward to a favorable and inclusive development as we all work together for a new mandate come 2023., And We wish you every success in your new role.

God bless Dr. Akol Ayii Madut for the betterment of humanity 🙏