South Sudan Unveils First National Instant Payment System to Boost Financial Inclusion

South Sudan has launched its first-ever National Instant Payment System (NIPS), a milestone aimed at transforming the country’s financial landscape by enabling seamless, real-time transactions. The system, introduced by the Bank of South Sudan (BoSS) in partnership with the AfricaNenda Foundation, comes three years after it was first proposed.

With over 6 million adults facing limited access to formal banking, NIPS is expected to reduce transaction delays, lower costs, and enhance financial inclusion. Previously, the country relied heavily on MTN and Zain mobile money services due to the absence of a domestic instant payment network.

According to BoSS Governor Johnny Ohisa Damian, the system integrates with existing financial infrastructure, including the Automated Clearing House (ACH), Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), and Instant Fund Transfers (IFT), ensuring smoother and more secure transactions.

“This marks a monumental step for financial and socio-economic inclusion in South Sudan,” Damian stated during the launch event.

NIPS aligns with the East African Community’s (EAC) financial modernization efforts, which aim to establish instant cross-border retail payments. South Sudan now joins Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda in adopting real-time transaction systems, leaving only Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) without instant payment platforms in the region.

Supported by global financial institutions like the African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this initiative is expected to strengthen economic stability, support businesses, and improve revenue collection in a country still rebuilding from years of conflict.

However, the success of NIPS will depend on effective implementation, user adoption, and sustained investment in digital infrastructure. If well-executed, it could serve as a cornerstone for South Sudan’s financial and economic growth.