South Sudan Country Summary
Higher Risk
View full Ratings TableSanctions
Higher Concern
FATF AML Deficient List
Higher Concern
Terrorism
Medium Concern
Corruption
Higher Concern
US State ML Assessment
Medium Concern
Criminal Markets (GI Index)
Medium Concern
EU Tax Blacklist
Lower Concern
Offshore Finance Center
Lower Concern
Please note that although the below Summary will give a general outline of the AML risks associated with the jurisdiction, if you are a Regulated entity then you may need to demonstrate that your Jurisdictional AML risk assessment has included a full assessment of the risk elements that have been identified as underpinning overall Country AML risk. To satisfy these requirements, we would recommend that you use our Subscription area.
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Anti Money Laundering
FATF Status
South Sudan is on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies
Compliance with FATF Recommendations
South Sudan has not yet undertaken a Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards.
Sanctions
The United Nations Security Council has maintained a comprehensive sanctions regime against South Sudan since 2015, renewed most recently through Resolution 2781 (2025) extending all measures to May 31, 2026, including an arms embargo, targeted financial sanctions, and travel bans with exemptions for UN personnel and humanitarian activities. Beyond the UN, numerous countries enforce autonomous or UN-aligned sanctions against South Sudan, including the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Norway, with Japan relying on UN measures only, while the Arab League has not imposed sanctions and regional bodies such as IGAD and the African Union Peace and Security Council have called for lifting the embargo.
Criminality
Rating |
0 (bad) - 100 (good) |
|---|---|
| Transparency International Corruption Index | 9 |
| World Bank: Control of Corruption Percentile Rank | 0 |
South Sudan faces a severe crisis of corruption and crime, characterized by a lack of enforcement of anti-corruption laws and significant gaps in legislation. The government is heavily involved in criminal activities, with political elites often immune from prosecution, while civil society and journalists face harassment and intimidation, severely undermining efforts to combat corruption and promote accountability.
Economy
The economy and investment climate in South Sudan remain challenging, with no significant improvements in trade and investment conditions over the past year. The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity has been slow to implement necessary reforms, extending the transitional period and delaying critical public financial management reforms aimed at combating corruption and enhancing transparency. South Sudan's economy is heavily reliant on oil revenue, yet pervasive corruption, a dysfunctional legal system, and a lack of skilled labor and infrastructure continue to deter foreign investment, exacerbating the risks for businesses operating in the country.
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