Breaking: U.S. Court Rules Against South Sudan in Dispute Worth More Than $1 Billion

Washington | July 27, 2026 South Juba Today – Agencies A U.S. federal court in Washington has issued a ruling in favor of Qatar National Bank (QNB) in the lawsuit filed against the Republic of South Sudan and the Bank of South Sudan (BoSS) over a financial dispute involving a loan dating back to the country’s civil war years. The court approved the enforcement of an international arbitration award requiring the Government of South Sudan and the Bank of South Sudan to pay more than US$1.02 billion to Qatar National Bank. The case stems from a loan of approximately US$700 million obtained by the Government of South Sudan during the civil war. Interest, legal costs, and compensation accumulated over time, increasing the total amount owed to more than US$1 billion. An arbitration tribunal affiliated with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) had previously concluded that both the Government of South Sudan and the Bank of South Sudan had failed to meet their contractual obligations. The tribunal found that South Sudan’s difficult economic conditions were not a sufficient legal defense for failing to repay the debt. The U.S. court’s decision adds further legal and financial pressure on the Government of South Sudan at a time when the country is already facing major economic and financial challenges. According to the court documents, the court requested that a proposed final judgment be submitted by August 12, 2026, meaning that the legal process to finalize the judgment is still ongoing. Key Facts * Amount in dispute: More than US$1.02 billion * Claimant: Qatar National Bank (QNB) * Defendants: Government of South Sudan and the Bank of South Sudan * Court: U.S. Federal Court in Washington