South
Sudan’s economic problem is systemic and not the responsibility of the
ministers of finance, the commissioner general of the National Revenue
Authority has said.
President Salva Kiir
dismissed Awow Daniel from his position as finance minister last week and
appointed Dr. Marial Dongrin as his replacement.
When Kiir fired Awow, he had only held the position for a duration of four
months.
“Our problem
is a systemic problem. Some of them are beyond South Sudan, but what is so
important is for system, policies, and institutions to be put in place so that
we are able to pick up form there,” said Africano Mande at the reception
ceremony of the new minister, Marial Dongrin.
Since the
establishment of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in
2020, President Salva Kiir has removed six finance ministers in an attempt to
fix the economic condition of the country.
Mande implored the seventh finance minister to exert maximum effort,
notwithstanding the difficulties associated with the institution and the job.
“Our work in
South Sudan has everything in it. There is strategizing, there is politics,
there is a little racism, and there is militarism,” he stated.
Amidst the severe
economic crisis, where the prices of essential goods and services have
significantly increased, the government has chosen to suspend the pay of civil
servants for a period of nine months.
In light of this
circumstance, the former minister expressed deep concern about the mounting
pressure within the ministry.
According to
Awow Daniel, the challenges, which include a low collection of non-oil revenues and
an over-reliance on oil, have made it difficult for the ministry to stabilize
the economy.
“The task in
this ministry of finance and planning is not an easy ride, and that’s why I
will be here also to advise my brother, Dr. Marial, of the challenges that we
are able to identify,” Awow asserted.
The ex-minister also requested an extension of time for the incoming minister in order to achieve success in the nation's economy.
“For the success of this country, we need to support the new minister, Hon. Dr. Marial, so that he can do his work and he should be given enough time because he doesn’t have a magic stick. He will have to do things as a human being. Nobody has a magic stick, but it’s for you to be given enough time; do your work, and then the results will come later,” he explained.
Awow recommended that the incoming minister prioritize working with a sense of urgency, given the fact that the duration of his tenure in office is uncertain.
“When you work, make sure you are working as if you are leaving tomorrow. Don’t work like you are going to be there for the next ten years. Work as if you are leaving tomorrow, and this will give you energy to work hard. If you want to finish anything today, finish it before tomorrow because you don’t know; tomorrow you might not be there,” he added.
During the recent
inauguration of Dongrin, Kiir instructed the newly appointed minister to
promptly resolve the issues of delayed wages for civil servants, the
mishandling of government funds, and to enhance the collection of non-oil
revenue.
Kiir admitted that the country possesses resources; but, these monies are being mishandled and redirected to accounts other than those belonging to the government.
“What is happening now is that, people have multiple bank accounts, and the money being collected does not come to the government’s coffers,” he said.
“We actually
have money. The money from non-oil revenues is enough to pay people and to do
everything. So let us believe that you will deliver. I understand that you have
been in the National Revenue Authority, and you know how money is being
collected from the people.”
Kiir, however, failed
to address the reason behind his administration's failure to hold the persons responsible for diverting income collected from being deposited into government
accounts.
