By Baraka John
A newly released report has exposed significant legal, cultural, and institutional hurdles that prevent many South Sudanese families from accessing funds left behind by deceased relatives.
The report, titled “Ending Family Poverty and Unlocking the Funds of the Next of Kin,” was launched on Friday in Yambio by the Organization for Liberty and Entrepreneurship (OLENT), in collaboration with Ghana’s Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI), and with support from the Atlas Network.
Based on a field study conducted in Juba, Malakal, Wau, Warap, Bentiu, Yambio, and Pibor, the research gathered insights from 379 participants, including 96 women. The findings reveal that more than 80% of individuals listed as next of kin were never officially informed of their status.
“Although most banks offer next of kin schemes, nearly half of the respondents said they don’t know how to access the deceased’s funds,” the report notes. “While many individuals had designated a next of kin prior to their death, fewer than 10% of those listed have successfully claimed the funds. Only 15% have even attempted to do so.”
The report highlights a combination of cultural taboos surrounding death, lack of legal awareness, and absence of formal wills as major factors keeping families in financial limbo. Over 50% of respondents admitted they had no written will, often due to superstitions, inadequate legal knowledge, or underestimating its importance.
“Young people accounted for 55% of the respondents,” said Emmanuel Lado, Executive Director of OLENT. “This underscores the urgent need to promote financial literacy and estate planning from an early age. Without that, families are left financially vulnerable after the death of a breadwinner.”
The process of claiming inheritance funds is often bureaucratic and slow, involving at least four administrative stages and lasting anywhere from two to eight weeks—assuming there are no delays. However, unofficial fees pose an even greater barrier. Respondents reported being asked to pay between 100,000 and 500,000 South Sudanese Pounds (approximately $100 to $400), with some required to give up to 10% of the total inheritance in unofficial “processing fees.”
Interviews with officials from 11 major financial institutions—including Equity Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, and Nile Commercial Bank—revealed that 70% do not proactively reach out to account holders or their families, even if the accounts have been dormant for over five years.
The report calls for urgent reforms and recommends the following:
-
Mandatory next of kin registration when opening bank accounts
-
Standardized documentation and verification procedures
-
Clear timelines and elimination of hidden fees
-
Public education campaigns on inheritance rights and estate planning
-
Regular follow-ups with dormant account holders or their next of kin
The authors urge both the government and financial institutions to take immediate action to ease the burden on grieving families and prevent inheritance-related poverty.