Impediments to the Evolution of Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion in South Sudan

This paper examines the constraints both to the evolution of mobile money and the broader banking sector provision of financial services in South Sudan, focusing on the conflict and state of financial inclusion during the 2011-2021 period. While mobile money has gained momentum in the region and beyond, its introduction in the South Sudanese market is recent, and adoption has been much slower, and differentiated, with customers more likely to have a mobile money account if they are better educated, live in the city, are male, and wealthy. A key contributor is the rudimentary level of South Sudans financial sector development, which feeds into financial exclusion, and the impact of preceding conflicts. Broadly, the paper confirms the longstanding view that economic disruption associated with the civil war and lack of supportive infrastructure are central barriers to expansion of financial services across the country. In conclusion, sustained stability and improved general infrastructure could enhance expansion of financial services and broader inclusion in South Sudan.