South Sudan is Staring into the Abyss of Crippling Famine
It’s Famine Stupid.
By Wel Andrew Makuet, Australia
South Sudan is staring inthe face of a crippling famine. Policy makers in the government and ex-government officials have failed this nation. The economy is in the state of inertia with over reliance on oil exports and undiversified economy.
With lack of no long-term economic policy in place, it was bound to happen as mismanagement and internal political crisis led to shocks on the economy.
All economic indicators coming out of South Sudan are worst than what most believe. Gross Domestic Product has fallen to almost half of what it was since January 2012 from USD20.78Billions to USD13.8Billions. Sourced [Trading Economics].
With rising inflation and negative growth rates which are ingredients of an economic crisis. Thus South Sudan is effectively in a recession and will be for the unforeseeable future, not until government comes up with sound economic policy reforms that will address:
a) Less oil dependency
b) Opening mineral explorations
c) Vast agricultural potential and,
d) Establish a monetary authority to manage currency inflation.
According to the UN and other NGOs sources, it is estimated that 3-4 million people are at risk of dying of hunger. Not once have I heard of any contingency plan or strategy from the government in tackling this famine,despite all the evidence of greater looming disaster.
From your air-conditioned mansion like houses in Juba to five star hotels in Addis Ababa, no urgency whatsoever, nada. Does glossing over this issue make the problem go away? Not necessarily, but it might give Juba ruling elites some kind of business as usual.
You know those honorable so and so. Nothing is more important to these “well meaning ” elites then what positions they are entitled to, or titles they ought to be called.The opportunity cost of not addressing the impending famine will be grave. Juba, it is a matter of national security.
Who are you going to lead?If we let our people die of hunger.It’s really an embarrassment of highest order to let charity/aid organizations take the lead in sounding the alarm and taking action to reduce the severity of famine.
Once upon a time,South Sudan liberation struggle was fought on the backs of this venerable population. They were just peasant farmers, who use to give their little harvest to SPLA. Now they are nothing to SPLM/SPLA then a used toilet paper. It’s imperative upon the Juba regime to do the right thing.
Suspend fat salaries of all ministers and the president for a month or two and you;the government produces a plan on confronting this issue.
Remember these starving South Sudanese will be going to polls come next election and I hope they don’t forget what the government did/didn’t do in their time of dire needs.
Wel Andrew Makuet is a concerned South Sudanese in Melbourne, Australia. He can reach onwel.andrew@outlook.com
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