South Sudan security sector leads in annual budget allocation

[Elisabeth Janaina]

South Sudan security sector leads in annual budget allocation

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October 18, 2016 (JUBA) - The security sector in South Sudan continues
to lead in the annual budget allocation, despite regular statements by
senior government officials claiming commitment to implementing the
peace agreement instead of prioritizing purchasing arms and
ammunitions.

JPEG - 20.5 kb
SPLA soldiers drive past military tanks that were destroyed and
abandoned in the recent fighting in the Jabel area of Juba, on July
16, 2016 (Reuters Photo)

The national budget presented to the national parliament by the
finance minister showed more than half of the budget allocated to the
security sector, goes to military operations. The fiscal year
2016/2017 draft budget shows an estimated 22.3 billion South Sudanese
pounds (SSP) from which 11.045 billion will go for the security
sector.

Speaking on Tuesday to members of parliament during the presentation
of the draft budget, finance minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau, said much of
the security budget will be used for salaries and veterans. 1.9
billion SSP goes to operation costs and 300,000,000 SSP for ‘new
capital’ expenditures.

Over 5 billion South Sudanese pounds, he said, has been allocated for
’peace expenditure’ and some disbursements again to the security
organs and the presidency to help in peace related initiatives.
.
177 million South Sudanese pounds will be used for social and
humanitarian affairs sector, while the infrastructure sector gets 466
million SSP and 1 billion for education sector. Health,
infrastructure, food security and other service institutions receive
negligible percentages.

The budget funds all branches of defence: army, navy, air force,
ground and auxiliary forces. In addition to paying for the salaries,
training and health care of uniformed and civilian personnel, it
maintains arms, equipment and facilities, funds operations and
develops and buys new equipment.

The finance minister apologized to the parliament for a delay in
presenting the budget. “As you know, I have recently taken my post as
minister for finance and planning. It is in these circumstances, and
with apologies, that the draft budget is presented to you three months
into the 2016/2017 fiscal year,” minister Dhieu said.

Dhieu claimed that his government is going to improve net oil revenues
this fiscal year to SSP 7.2 billion SSP. Non-oil revenues to be
estimated at 9.2 billion SSP during this year and grant from donors
expected to amount to 2.4 billion SSP. He also tabled a taxation
amendment bill.

Speaker of parliament Anthony Lino Makana referred the draft budget to
specialized parliamentary Committees for more deliberation before
returning to the house for second readings within 21 days.

The annual budget has been described as “the largest public budget.”
It is a high figure in South Sudanese pounds, but a very small figure
when calculating the deterioration of the exchange rate, which is 1
dollar to 8 SSP in the black market. The situation was caused by the
big losses in the various economic sectors, because of the devastation
and the decline in non-oil and oil revenues.

Finance minister told legislators on Tuesday that the government was
seeking to overcome the obstacles facing the oil sector, and to
provide the adequate atmosphere for the development process, by
addressing the difficulties, securing the production requirements and
encouraging industrialists to establish new industrial projects.

He called on the investors who have fled the country because of the
war to come back and take part in the reconstruction phase.

Observers say optimistic investment atmosphere takes place as
government banks suffer from huge debts. These debts also extend to a
large number of businessmen, most of whom have left the country and
transferred their assets and investments outside the country. Majority
of the investors with assets and deposits of private banks operating
in the country have fled after eruption of the war.

(ST)

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Kind regards,

The Sudan Tribune editorial team.

18 October 23:28, by Mr Point

Now Kiir has achieved peace in South Sudan by defeating his
enemies, real or imaginary.
Now Kiir is preaching the gospel of forgiveness.
Now is the time for turning swords into ploughshares.
Now is the time to spend less on arms and the military and spend
the profits of peace on Health, infrastructure, food security and
other service institutions which receive negligible percentages.

repondre message
19 October 06:59, by Akuma

Security and defend are the first priority since our country
is full with militias who believe in killing civilians and grab powers
by forces.

It’s better security are strengthen to give our national army
good image like training them to be professional army.