June 24, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —– Following months of strikes and yet risking more strikes from the army, police, wildlife and other public servants, South Sudan’s incumbent president of the Transition Government of National Unity, Mr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, has ordered the Central Bank to print enough money to pay the government employees.
The order, which is more likely to deteriorate the already struggling economy, was passed behind closed doors this week in a brief summon at South Sudan’s state house (J1) by president Salva Kiir Mayardit.
According to a government official, who refused to be identified for his own safety, President Salva Kiir summoned the Central Bank Governor, Mr.Kornelio Koriom Mayik, and the Minister of Finance and Economic planning, Hon. Deng Athorbei, on Wednesday and ordered them to pay the public servants.
Following months of intensive internal debates on the difficult decision, economic advisors to president Salva Kiir warned that the decision will wash down the economy to level of Somalia, DRC and Zimbabwe, however, the president and “a few of his Dinka cliques” argued that better a bad economy than losing the government.
They argued that they waited for the international community to offer financial assistance for so long and they are now tired of waiting when the disgruntled public servants are now demanding reforms and “regime change” on top of their salaries.
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Worst come to worst, the Jieng(Dinka) Council of Elders warned the president that the army will strike and major defections may lead to another deadly conflict like that of December 2013.
According to the government official, the insiders agreed to keep the decision a secret and say that the government has borrowed loans from China to be repaid with crude oil.
He further reiterates that the decision came as a last resort after the Minister of Finance and Economic Planing approached the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, H.E. Ma Qiang, to seek financial assistant but the deal went wrong when Hon. Deng Athorbei became too emotional and abusive – leaving the Chinese government with no option but to deny the crumbling government any form of assistance.
Read: CHINA-SOUTH SUDAN BILATERAL RELATIONS AT A BRINK OF COLLAPSE
Confirming the reports, the Deputy Governor of South Sudan Central Bank said yesterday, that the young country was left with little money that may purchase only basic imports which will not last more than 5 weeks.
“The [foreign] reserves we have may cover only imports of only five weeks [from now],” Said John Dor Majok, the deputy governor of Central Bank governor during an interview with Radio Miraya on Thursday.
“After that, there will not be any goods in the market,” adding that they could be some goods in the market sold by foreigners and businessmen but at extremely very high prices.
According to Presidential Advisor on Economic Affairs, Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, the only way for South Sudan government to pay the civil servants is by printing more money.
Similar reports have been indirectly announced by government officials including the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Michael Makuei Lueth, and the Press Secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny.
Without mentioning how, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting publicly assured the public servants on Tuesday that they will be fully paid their salaries very soon.
Speaking after President Salva Kiir summoned the Bank Governor and the Minister of Finance, the Press Secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny, expressed with a lot of relief and confident that “finally” the public servants will now be paid two to three months of their salaries and will also be paid ahead of time in July.
“Finally the civil servants are going to be paid fully,” Ateny Said.
“This is a very significant step taken by the President in an attempt to alleviate the suffering of civil servants. More shall follow in the resolve to improve our economy,” Ateny Wek added.
South Sudan has been in one of the worst turmoil since 2013, however, things have fallen much apart in the last few months as Salva Kiir’s faction within the transitional government struggles to accommodate 28 states alongside poorly trained huge army which was recruited in the last two years to fight the war.
Despite the signing of peace in August 2015, South Sudan has not moved forward. Wars and many violations to human rights continued within the 28 states and also between the two rival forces of SPLA. Hundreds of thousands of civilians continue to flee their homes due to hunger and wars.
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2 comments
it was very unfortunate that mr kiir planned for this senseless conflict in the country.
we wanted our country to remains peaceful as well as we all work as a team doing our best by exerting much effort for the futurity of our home land. But kiir said, no. ok kiir must account for the financial crises, and he must determine it. only kiir should counted for that. He must reverse the issue of 28 states for the solution to that
I never understood Dinka With Cows who were born first because Dink behaves like their cattles A PRESIDENT of Nation can not behaves as if a Kid of 2 years old