How the Bank of South Sudan regulates mobile money

Who regulates mobile money

The Bank of South Sudan says it holds sole responsibility for supervising, regulating and licensing financial institutions under the Bank of South Sudan Act, 2011 ¹. Its licensing page at https://boss.gov.ss/licensing/ sets out bank licence forms. It did not list mobile money or e-money licensees when checked on 20 October 2026 ¹.

The bank's regulations page at https://boss.gov.ss/regulations/ lists the Electronic Money Regulation of 2017 ². UNCDF reported in April 2023 that the regulation applies to all entities providing electronic financial services, including banks, non-bank financial institutions and mobile network operators ⁶.

Mthulisi Sibanda of ITWeb reported on 17 August 2026 that Governor Addis Ababa Othow urged passage of a Draft National Payment System Bill, drafted in 2025. The report said the bill would set licensing frameworks and reinforce consumer and data protection. It described the bill as a draft ⁷.

What the 2025 amendment says

Amnon Jakony of Access Radio reported on 1 September 2026 that the amendment was issued under the Bank of South Sudan Act 2011 Amendment 2023 and the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act 2023 ³. This guide could not find the amendment text on the bank's regulations page on 20 October 2026. The points below are as reported ^2,3.

• Standalone payment system providers must set up separate companies to issue e-money ³.
• The licence filing fee is SSP 65,000,000 and is not refundable ³.
• The bank must decide applications within 60 days and give written reasons for a rejection ³.
• Systems must be available at least 99.5% of the time, and users must be told of disruptions at once ³.
• Failed transactions caused by network problems must be reversed automatically ³.
• Customer funds must sit in trust or special accounts, with no more than 25% at a single commercial bank ³.
• Agents must be free to work with more than one provider. Providers must give 30 days' notice before moving or closing an agent outlet ³.
• All payment platforms must connect to the National Payment System through a licensed switch ³.

Account tiers and limits

The amendment sets three account tiers, as reported by Access Radio. Over-the-counter transactions are capped at SSP 6,500,000 per transfer ³.

Your rights and how to complain

Under the amendment as reported, providers must acknowledge and resolve complaints within seven days each. They may extend by 10 days if they inform the customer ³. Customers can escalate to the provider's senior management or to the central bank ³.

Provider terms set their own rules. MTN's terms say a MoMo account is not guaranteed by the Bank of South Sudan and that account queries go to MTN ¹⁰.

• Complain to your provider first and keep the transaction details ³.
• If the provider does not resolve it in time, escalate to its senior management or the central bank ³.
• Contact the Bank of South Sudan on +211 920 004 100 or [email protected] ¹.

Mobile money as payment

Amnon Jakony of Access Radio reported on 18 July 2025 that a Bank of South Sudan public notice made mobile money a legally recognised form of payment for goods and services. Businesses must accept it and display notices with their registered agent number. The report cited fines or prosecution for refusal ⁴.

James Atem Kuir of Eye Radio reported on 19 July 2025 that the step supports the bank's 2023 to 2027 strategic plan, which aims to raise electronic money use to 30 percent of the population ⁵.

On 29 September 2025 the bank posted a notice titled Warning on E-money FX Transactions at higher rates, with a letter from its Directorate of Supervision and Financial Stability ⁸. This guide could not read the letter text.

Findings by official bodies

UNCDF reported in April 2023 that no agent regulations existed and that the central bank did not record agent numbers ⁶. It said informal Safaricom agents were operating in South Sudan without supervision ⁶.

On 27 February 2026 the Bank of South Sudan reported meeting MTN South Sudan on system stability, regulatory compliance and consumer protection ⁹.