Overview

The Authority grants the public postal licensee exclusive rights to provide private letter boxes, postal bags, and postal services, except those excluded by regulations under the National Communication Act.

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Universal Postal Services

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The Authority sets targets for postal licensees to meet universal service obligations. When doing so, it considers:

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• Measurable service standards related to customer satisfaction.

• Speed, reliability, and security of services.

• Accessibility and affordability of universal services.

• Technological, economic, and social developments.

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The public postal licensee is responsible for providing universal postal services, and may do so through contracts, agencies, or franchises. The Authority does not require agents or franchisees to hold licenses, but must be notified of any such agreements. Basic postal services cannot be suspended except during force majeure events (e.g., natural disasters, war, strike, or government regulations).

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The Authority may reserve certain services for public postal licensees to maintain universal service. Any licensee who violates these regulations may face fines of up to USD 100,000 per month.

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Right to Provide Postal Services

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No person may operate postal services without a license from the Authority, though certain services may be exempted. The Authority’s ruling on whether a postal article is a letter is final.

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Postage Stamps and Letter Boxes

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The public postal licensee has exclusive rights to issue postage stamps and provide private letter boxes. Stamps must be high-quality, difficult to replicate, and aligned with South Sudan’s philatelic goals. Commemorative stamps can be issued periodically, while definitive stamps are issued once every five years and remain in circulation for up to ten years.

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Postal Article Guidelines

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• Liability for Postal Charges: The recipient of a postal article is liable for postage unless they refuse or return it unopened. If the recipient is unreachable or deceased, the sender remains liable.

• Opening of Postal Articles: Postal articles cannot be opened or delivered to anyone other than the addressee without authorization, unless required by law (e.g., customs or import/export regulations).

• Interception of Postal Articles: In a state of public emergency, the National Government can order the interception or detention of postal articles for public safety.

• Injurious Materials: Sending materials that may harm others during transmission (e.g., explosives or sharp objects) is prohibited.

• Prohibited Materials: Sending indecent, obscene, or offensive materials, or items bearing fake stamps, is prohibited. The Authority may regulate the detention or destruction of such items.

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Evidence of Return of Postal Articles

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In legal proceedings, a postal article with an official mark indicating it was refused, returned, or unclaimed serves as evidence. The sender is presumed to be the person from whom the article originated.

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Postal Financial Services

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The Authority may permit the public postal licensee to provide postal financial services, including money orders, postal drafts, cash-on-delivery, bill collection, and other financial services as prescribed by regulations.