Category: Economy

Economy

John Akec: Salary delays mean South Sudan not truly liberated

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba criticized the delays in salary payment, adding that true liberation is when government workers in the country are regularly remunerated for their work.

Civil servants and members of the organized force in South Sudan have now gone for six months without receiving their salaries, a situation that prompted reactions from activists, lawmakers and foreign envoys.

“True Liberation is when public sector employees, including ministers, MPs, diplomats, civil servants, doctors & nurses, teachers, and members of organized forces are paid a living wage regularly month by month, year on year,” Akec said in a Facebook post.

The vice chancellor added: “Until that happens the country is “not yet uhuru.”

Recently, civil society activist, Edmund Yakani, called on the government to immediately release the months of salary arears for civil servants and organized forces, who have worked for free since August 2023.

Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), demanded an urgent intervention from the national cabinet meeting which took place on February 9, 2024, but the meeting failed to raise the issue.

The activist made the call following concerns raised by civil servants, including a member of parliament, who said even the legislators haven’t received their wages since August 2023.

Clement Juma, the Chairperson of South Sudan National Movement for Change, a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement said the Ministry of Finance failed to pay them their dues under unclear reasons.

First Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament on December 4, 2023, questioned why civil servants are not being paid their salaries, arguing that the country receives “sufficient” oil and non-oil revenues.

Oyet Nathaniel said although there are some difficulties in the economy, it is not a justification to deprive civil servants of their payment.

According to him, salary is an unnegotiable right of every working citizen and must therefore be paid as outlined in the fiscal year budget 2023-2024.

The US Ambassador to South Sudan also reiterated calls on the transitional government to adopt transparent use of oil revenue for the benefit of its citizens.

Michael J. Adler said the country has enough resources while adding that it is unacceptable for the transitional government to allow civil servants to go for months without salaries.

In January 2024, Global Finance ranked resource-rich South Sudan as the poorest country in the world with 476 USD in GDP per capita – a situation blamed on civil wars, ethnic and sectarian strife.

The report said South Sudan, endowed with oil and vast mineral reserves, is a textbook example of the “resource curse,” whereby abundance fosters political and social divisions, inequality, corruption and warfare.

Taxing WES roadblocks force some drivers to suspend movement

Some public transport drivers in Western Equatoria state say they have suspended movement along Juba-Yambio road due to dozens of roadblocks and exorbitant fee charges.

The drivers have accused members of the organized of erecting between 21 and 26 checkpoints and collecting fees.

While the Yambio County commissioner says he was not aware, the army spokesperson advised the drivers to raise their complaints through official channels.

In a voice recording by Eye Radio Tuesday morning, a bus conductor could be heard pleading with a soldier over a fee he was asked to pay.

The man Eye Radio withheld his identity gave 2000 pounds, but the soldier turned it down demanding for more, while warning the conductor to pack the car on the road aside.

Speaking to Eye Radio from Yambio town on Tuesday, some drivers said they  decided to suspend their movement along Juba-Yambio road due to the multiple road fees.

“There is a problem of roadblocks that is why drivers are angry.  They complained a lot to the government but there’s no response. A person who moves from here (Juba) to Yambio will spend like 150, 000 pounds, that’s the issue,” said Moses Henry, one of the drivers.

According to him, the drivers will resume work if the matter is settled by the government.

Another driver Yaba Nyee  said they were not against the road block, but the multiple charges imposed on them by members of the organized forces.

He called on the government to intervene. “The thing we need from our government is to reduce the charges to small amount because the vehicles we use are not ours, and if we go to the owners, they assume we stole the money,” he said.

When contacted, the Western Equatoria County Commissioner, Mbiko Barakat said he was not aware about the concerns raised, neither was the state governor.

“We are not aware, even the governor is not aware, we don’t have any single information like that one maybe that’s their own thing they want to make, but they have not informed us officially.”

Meanwhile, the army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang  encouraged the complaining drivers to channel their concerns through the official channels.

‘You know whenever claim is made for it to be authentic some kind of additional investigation must be done.

“If they feel aggrieved by the organized forces along Juba-Yambio roads, then they should channel their concerns through the official channels.

 

 

Five KCB Wau branch managers sentenced over embezzlement

The high court in Juba has sentenced five senior staff of Kenyan Commercial Bank to 9 years imprisonment for embezzling $2 million and SSP 100 million from the Wau branch.

The court ordered the convicts pay back the stolen money to the Bank.

It also imposed a one million pound fine one of the convicts and acquitting another.

This came after the internal auditor on June 2022 discovered the disappearance of $2 million and SSP31 million S from  the bank treasury in two of the Wau branches  in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.

This prompted the bank administration to file a criminal case against the Bank branch manager, operation manager and treasury custodian, among others.

Prior to the verdict, the accused made judicial confession to the crime.

Branch manager Madit Steven Jok admitted he was responsible over the disappearance of $1,93,000 and SSP 13,328,530

The second accused, the court identified as Daniel Akoi Jok confessed of taking $ 330.000 and SSP 59,373.825 while Juma Sabeno Augustino who was the third accused admitted stealing 530,000 US dollars.

Presiding Judge Alexander Subek Sabor sentenced the two and three others namely Lino Arkangelo Mongo and Musa Agad Abdallah to 9 years imprisonment on two criminal charges.

“The court has convicted Madit Steven Jok, Daniel Akoi Jok, Juma Sabenio Augustino, Lino Arkangelo Mongo and Musa Agad Abdallah to 2 years imprisonment for violating the section 346 of South Sudan Penal act 2008.

“And also you are hereby sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for violating the section 351 of South Sudan Penal act 2008 the two penalties will be served sequentially.

“The court imposed one million South Sudan Pound as fined on the seventh accused Faisal Mohamad Hamedi if he fails to pay, he will serve 5 months in jail staring from today 6/2/2024, acquitted the eight accused Al Shafique Ahamed Yacob,”

They will serve two years for violating sections 346 and 351 of the South Sudan Penal acts 2008

The convicts have two weeks to appeal against the verdict.

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