South Sudan reportedly cleared its AU membership arrears

June 25, 2020 News, Newsbeat, South Sudan

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit arrives for the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and the Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia January 29, 2018. (Photo credit: REUTERS)

June 25, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan government has reportedly cleared its over $9 million membership arrears at the African Union (AU) which the world’s youngest country has not paid for the last three years.

Earlier this month, the AU sanctioned the country for failing to pay its membership arrears for a duration of three years.

The South Sudan ambassador to Addis Ababa and the head of the country’s head of mission to the AU said in a letter – seen by South Sudan News Now – to the ministry of foreign affairs that the country’s diplomats were embarrassed after they were asked to leave an AU meeting hall over their country’s failure to pay the money.

Speaking to South Sudan News Now this evening, a foreign ministry official said the government has paid the money through the ministry of finance.

This comes a week after a senior foreign ministry official told South Sudan News Now that the government was also asking China for a $12 million loan to cover the fees.