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South Sudan restricts exports of timber, charcoal, fish

Xinhua, May 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan has imposed restrictions on exports of timber, charcoal and unprocessed fish, in a bid to regulate depletion of natural resources and widen tax base, an official said.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Investments, Stephen Dhieu Dau, said late Wednesday that these goods will only be exported under special licenses issued by his ministry as provided for in the Import and Export Act 2012.

The ministry also restricted imports of arms and ammunition, ivory, genetically modified products, non-indigenous species of fish, narcotic drugs, agricultural chemicals like DDT dieldrin, soaps, among others.

The under secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Biel Jok Thich, said some senior government officials had in the past encouraged illegal exports and imports of some banned goods.

"Some of these people involved in illegal trade of these prohibited goods are senior people in government.

"We are now trying to restrict that," Biel said.

South Sudan is facing economic challenges, marked by a shortage of hard currency and shrunk oil production, after more than two years of civil war.

A transitional government of national unity has been formed following former rebel leader Riek Machar's return to the capital Juba late last month. Endit