U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan, Michael J. Adler. (Photo: Courtesy).

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Michael J. Adler
on Behalf of the Troika
at the Inaugural National Economic Conference
Juba, South Sudan
September 4, 2023

I appreciate the opportunity to address you today on behalf of the Troika.

Twelve years after independence, and 18 years after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the South Sudanese people have yet to see the prosperity they anticipated would follow.

Such prosperity can only come from economic growth of the type to be discussed at this conference, growth that is “diversified, inclusive, stable and sustainable.”

Looking beyond this conference, we call upon the transitional government to demonstrate through its actions, that it views achieving this growth as a priority.

To demonstrate that this is indeed the case, the transitional government must establish an environment that is conducive to effective development assistance and responsible private sector investment.

I regret to say that such an environment does not currently exist.

Such an environment will only emerge when the transitional government demonstrates the political will to meet peace commitments that are necessary so that a free, fair, and peaceful election can take place.

It will only emerge when there is accountability for human rights violations, including gender-based violence, and measures to prevent corruption.

It will only come when there is transparency in the use of public revenue and prioritization of the use of that revenue based on the principle that public resources must be used to meet public needs.

For example, at present, the largest portion of South Sudan’s public revenue — including the majority of its oil revenue — is spent on roads, yet how much benefit have the South Sudanese people actually seen from this spending? Could these funds be better used? What is the opportunity cost of the current pattern of spending?

Let’s consider a few examples of the cost of not using public revenue to meet other priorities. These include:

Low and non-payment of civil service and security sector salaries affects government capacity and serves as primary drivers of criminality and corruption.

The health sector relies overwhelmingly on international assistance, with only two per cent of its financial support coming from the transitional government.

As more than 240,000 South Sudanese who were living in Sudan seek sanctuary in their home country, only $3 million has been made available from public revenue for humanitarian response.

Let me be clear, the question of how the wealth of this country should be used is for the South Sudanese people to determine, not for me or for other foreigners.

However, as representatives of donor countries, we owe it to both our own taxpayers and to the South Sudanese people we seek to support to call on the transitional government to prioritize its use of public revenue in a manner that treats the South Sudanese people as its priority.

This means the transitional government taking greater responsibility to:

• Provide basic services to its citizens;
• Pay public sector salaries on time, including those for health workers, teachers, and security forces, in a transparent and accountable manner; and
• Increase its contribution to the health sector and to humanitarian assistance to its people who are in greatest need.

The troika countries – Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States – have contributed substantial assistance to support the South Sudanese people for decades.

Our support for the South Sudanese people’s aspirations for a better future remains strong. So is our conviction that the driving factors that obstruct economic growth in this country are in the hands of the transitional government to address.

These factors can be reversed if the transitional government meets its peace commitments, introduces transparency and accountability, and prioritizes the use of public revenue to meet public needs.

By doing so, the transitional government will demonstrate that diversified, inclusive, stable and sustainable economic growth – economic growth that can bring prosperity to South Sudan – is indeed a transitional government priority.

The South Sudanese people deserve this. Donor countries expect this. The history of sacrifice that the South Sudanese people endured on their way to independence calls upon all to support this. A path to a better and prosperous future requires this.

In conclusion, I would like to share personal thoughts I have had as I followed the news of the performance of South Sudan’s basketball team in Manila. First, my warmest congratulations to the team. The pride of South Sudanese people of all backgrounds in the team’s performance is clear. At the same time, I remain concerned that the funding allocated for the basketball team by the transitional government exceeds the amount that has been made available for humanitarian assistance.

As I read the news and heard from South Sudanese friends, my thoughts turned to another time and place. I thought of the 1988 Olympics in South Korea. It was a time of great pride for South Koreans in their country’s place in international sports. But it was also a time of pride in so much more, due to South Korea’s evolution from an aid-dependent country emerging from its own very traumatic history of occupation and war to a major, prosperous world economy, a donor nation, and a model others aspire to follow.

The Olympics also occurred the year after South Korea held the election that established the strong and flourishing democracy its people enjoy today. It was widely noted that South Koreans who watched the Olympics in 1988 took pride in that as well.

So, while I extend my congratulations to South Sudan on the basketball team’s performance, it is my hope that the South Sudanese people will soon be able to take pride in their country’s democracy and prosperity as well.

Thank you.

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For more information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section:
Emmanuel Kulang, Strategic Communications Coordinator | kulangea@state.gov |+211
0926770234