By Matik Kueth
South Sudan secured an enormous legal victory in a long-running international arbitration case with Vivacell, with the tribunal slashing the telecom company’s $2.9 billion compensation claim to $48 million.
The dispute dated back to 2018, when South Sudan’s government ordered Vivacell to cease operations, citing the company’s failure to pay taxes and obtain a valid license after the country gained independence from Sudan.
The government maintained that Vivacell continued to operate under a Sudan-issued license, dodging taxes and licensing costs totaling nearly $66 million.
The Lebanese-owned Al Fattouch Group, which operated Vivacell, took the case to the International Court of Arbitration, seeking $3 billion in damages for what it described as an unlawful shutdown.
The court already fined the firm $1 billion in restitution. However, in 2023, South Sudan’s government filed a successful judicial appeal, investing $4 million in legal representation for the case.
The arbitration tribunal, after hearings in 2022 and 2024, delivered its final verdict on May 26, 2025, ruling decisively in favor of the Government of South Sudan.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Michael Makuei, Minister of information, noted that the final concession was dramatically reduced to $48 million.
“Today, the republic of South Sudan received an award, a decision of arbitration which they announce today. This tribunal was instituted under the international chamber of commerce (ICC). This is a great achievement. They initially claimed $2.9 billion, but the final award is just $48 million. It proves we were right all along,” Makuei said.
He alleged that Vivacell abandoned its equipment and over 200 South Sudanese employees without fulfilling outstanding financial and legal responsibilities.
Makuei reaffirmed the government’s commitment to lawful and transparent business operations.
“South Sudan’s commitment to lawful and transparent business practices. We welcome investors, but they must operate within our legal framework,” he stated.
The government is currently reviewing the tribunal’s full report to determine how it will proceed with the payment of the reduced award.