South Sudan delays launching national dialogue over lack of funds
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President Salva Kiir addresses delegates during the swearing-in
ceremony of FVP Taban Deng Gai at the Presidential Palace in Juba,
July 26, 2016. (Reuters/Jok Solomun)
April 7, 2017 (JUBA) – Senior officials in South Sudan Friday said the
national dialogue that was declared by President Salva Kiir could not
be launched because the funds have not yet been secured to facilitate
the activities of the secretariat.
The dialogue was supposed to start in March.
A cabinet minister in the unity government, who preferred anonymity
told Sudan Tribune that he was uncertain if the dialogue would start
because the international partners who indicated their willingness to
provide support were now reluctant to come forward.
“The main reason is that there are no funds. The funds allocated in
the budget for peace implementation have not been provided. The
ministry of finance is unable to avail funds because there is no
money. You know very well that civil servants and those in the army
have spent more than two months without payment. This is now the
priority,” the official added.
He said the national dialogue was supposed to fund by the Japanese
government who indicated their readiness to provide funds, but they
are now reluctant. The delay is a direct result of the development of
the regional protection force and the demand to make the dialogue an
inclusive process.
“Things that include other people are always not reliable. The
Japanese government which initially indicated the willingness to
assist with financial support is now reluctant. They are talking about
the regional protection force and inclusivity, it seems these are
their conditions for assistances,” said the official.
His comments echoed similar comments made by Ateny Wek Ateny,
Presidential Spokesperson, who said in a separate interview that the
money had not yet been put in place to organise the national dialogue.
The national dialogue, which President Kiir announced in December, was
supposed to start a month ago but nothing has been done thus far.
Top officials from the dialogue steering committee appointed last year
said progress on the program seen as an anchor of people-to-people
reconciliation had stalled and committee members had not yet been
sworn in.
Joseph Okello, a member of the steering committee said separately they
have not been called for swearing in even after their names were
announced through the presidential decree.
“We have heard President that the national dialogue arrangements are
underway. Our names were announced but we have not been called to be
sworn in as members of the committee and therefore we are waiting to
hear from him when this will take place,” said Okello.
While several officials, including Ateny have linked the cause of the
delay to lack of funds, Michael Makuei Lueth, government spokesman and
the Minister of Information told reporters earlier this week that the
cause of the delay was due to documents which the secretariat was
developing.
President Kiir and the members of cabinet announced after the
declaration of the dialogue and the appointment of the officials that
the steering committee would come up with a budget to start the
process.
The President also organised the National Day of Prayer in March to
commence the dialogue in which he publicly asked to be forgiven for
the failures of his person that have plunged the nation into chaos.
(ST)
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8 April 03:10, by Kuch
And since when have the Sudanese people ever been needing money to
settle their own spats/quarrels? With foreign money? Non that l know
of. The fools who don’t want peace in our country are the same
criminals war to continue and their war have to be paid for by the US,
the UK, the UN and NGOs! Give us a break fellows.
repondre message
8 April 05:49, by Kush Natives
That’s pretty sad indeed! That mean without funds,no dialogue? No
peace as well? So, what are we protecting here,if money is everything?
Now, it’s time for each state in the country to make her own dialogue
with her neighboring states. If not, then some states will finish in
the hands of starvation without single billets.
repondre message
8 April 06:11, by John John
Boooo hooooooo
As always the fault of the international community.
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