SPLM-IO official mocks home state governor over contribution to buy vehicles

March 2, 2016 (JUBA) – An economist and deputy head of the national committee for economic affairs and resources mobilization in the armed opposition faction of the SPLM-IO, has mocked a South Sudan’s governor of one of the newly created controversial 28 states over his plans to mobilize funds.

Aggrey Idri, in his Wednesday comment seen by Sudan Tribune, said realities of the difficulty to finance the unilaterally decreed 28 states by President Salva Kiir was beginning to surface as some governors resort to “poor” citizens to avail money.

Idri alleged that the governor of the newly created Amadi state, curved from former Western Equatoria state, has resorted to pleading with the state citizens to contribute money in order for him to buy vehicles for the new state government and county commissioners.

He said this is “The unfolding bitter realities of how the 28 States shall financially survive!” he wrote.

“In Amadi States the Governor is asking respective county communities to contribute to buy vehicles for their commissioner!!”

The armed opposition’s senior official said the action would further make poor the already suffering citizens of the state who have been depending on relief assistance, particularly following recent clashes in the area between government forces and armed groups.

“After all our communities in the first time of their history since creation are depending on relief aid because of the government dry season offensive recently launched in Greater Mundri!”

“They need food and here you [governor] are asking them to buy cars?” he asked.

South Sudan has been hit by economic problems which threaten collapse of the world’s youngest nation as its shaky economy is concerned.

With scarcity of both the foreign currency, the official dollar exchange rate has shot up from 3 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per 1 US dollar in 2011 when it became independent to 30 SSP per 1 dollar in 2015.

As majority civil servant employees of the former 10 states governments have not been given their monthly salaries since January, the situation has even threatened further difficulties in establishing 28 new states without the budget from the government.

South Sudan has been dependent on oil revenues by over 98% of its overall annual budget. The reduction in oil production caused by the two years of civil war, coupled with the sharp fall of global oil prices, have made the situation worse.

(ST)