President Kiir tells the nation to welcome former rebels in a speech to parliament on Wednesday
The Long-Awaited Speech from President Salva Kiir Mayaardit to the Nation
November 18, 2015 (SSB) — Well, before I start my speech, just for a laughter. He (Master of Ceremony) said that we went through long war of 21 years. The 21 years I spent fighting in the bushes of South Sudan are preferable than the last 10 years that I spent (laughter and hand clapping). Yes the 10 years since the signing of the peace agreement, the CPA, up to this moment are the worse periods that I have ever had and you people know it.
Thank you very much.
Your Excellency, James Wani Igga, V.P of the Republic, Rt Hon. Speaker Magok Rundial, Rt. Hon. Deputy Speaker Joseph Bol Chan and speaker of the council of states Hon members of the legislature and the executive distinguish guesses ladies and gentlemen, allow me to take this opportunity to greet you all and to wish you best wishes of peace and stability in our Country after signing of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Before proceeding on I would like to take this important movement to assure you in this August House once again as your president that I am ready to implement the agreement in letter and spirit. And I call upon you all as the representative of our people to cooperate and join hands with me in the implementation of the agreement in the interest of our people and our beloved country
Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members;
We must stop more bloodshed and destruction in our country; I believed we are all morally and lawfully obligated to do the right things to our people instead of causing them more harm and suffering. With this agreement, we must redouble our effort to put the country back to normalcy as soon as possible and deliver the services to the people. This is what our people want from us and we must be ready and committed fully to meet their expectations.
As we prepare for the agreement, we will be hosting the IGAD summit here in Juba in the next few days or next week. This is a very important step towards transferring all the process of the implementation of this peace agreement here at home in South Sudan. This IGAD summit will also involve the inauguration of the office of the joint monitoring and evaluation commission (J-MEC).
In the mean time we are also expecting the arrival of the advance team of the SPLM/A-IO and the Former Detainees as the measure of trust and confidence building among ourselves after several months of conflict. It is not several months; it is two years now, of conflict and hostilities since December 15th, 2013.
Unfortunately as your government is seriously engaged in the preparation for the reception and the welcoming of the IGAD Head of States and Government our brothers in the opposition led by Riek Machar are busy attacking our towns and SPLA positions in the Greater Upper Nile. On Sunday, November 15th, 2015 the Rebels of Riek Machar attacked Maar in Jonglei State and killed 23 people were killed. The following day 16th of November they attack Nhial-diu in Unity State and in that attack most of the cattle of the civil population in the town where all taken by the rebels. The moment they dislodge our forces they were able to take the cows and when they were dislodge cows where already gone. So it is something that happened. As I speak the rebels are still planning for more attacks; from Malakal, Thaarjath, Bentiu, Rubkona, Guit, Leer and Panakuach.
Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members;
As you may recall in my last address to the Nation on October 02nd, 2015 on the establishment order for the creation of 28 states in the Republic of South Sudan; I concentrated on political issues namely the IGAD PLUS Agreement. At that time I did not talk about the economic issues facing our Country now I have time the peace agreement but the implementation of this peace agreement comes with challenges and high cost. We have the challenges of repatriation and rehabilitation of IDPs and Returnees. My government has put in place a number of executive committees to recommend the strategies and modalities which are important for the smooth implementation of the Agreement. In this regards I call upon the international partners stand with us in the implementation of this peace agreement. This peace is coming at the time when our Country was hit hard and shock by the economic crisis for instance in 2012 due to conflict with Sudan on the border issues and transit fees we shut down our oil production and in December 2013 we were faced with the same coup attempt which triggered the current crisis that we are in as the result, the insecurity affected the production of our oil in Unity State, all this where followed by the fall of the international crisis of crude oil. Today our only oil production is in Upper Nile State which is producing approximately 165,000 barrels per a day yet we continue to pay the Republic of Sudan what is known the “Sudan Transitional Financial Assistance (TFA)” in accordance with the provision of the cooperation agreement 2012. In addition to that we have to pay fees to Sudan for renting oil pipeline and pay oil companies this means that we get less revenue coming to us. With reduced oil revenues we still have to find the way of meeting of running the government and delivering basic social and economic services to our people.
Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members;
The alternative source to meet our financial gaps as the government is to improve the collection of non oil revenues and seek funds through domestic and external borrowing. Many people and countries have accused South Sudan of borrowing millions from various sources. As your president I can assure you that South Sudan has not borrowed money externally as people think. What we have done is to take sales of oil (in advance) to address our national challenges. My government is also taking steps to ensure the supply of essential commodities to the market on affordable prices to dampened the current high prices you are experiencing. These measures will go a long way in alleviating most acute difficulties you are currently facing in regards to the high food prices and fuel shortages. My government has taken serious measures. For food, the government has secured funds and contracted credible banks to import food items. And for fuel we have signed a contract with international company to close the gaps of fuel shortages in the country.
Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members;
In order to reduce our dependency on oil revenues and our needs of hard currencies to import basic commodities such as food and fuel, we need to invest significantly in our economic infrastructure particularly our road network and increase our productive capacity. Therefore in order to free up public resources for investment in production and economic infrastructure we will need to reduce the size of our public sector in non critical areas.
With peace now the ministry of petroleum and mining is going to increase the current production and start the production in unity state. The ministry of labor public services and human resource development will study effective easy and means that will create incentive for the employees and encourage them to move out of the public sector and engaged in the productive activities in the private sector. In addition to the above, I have instructed the minister of finance together with the governor of the Bank of South Sudan to study and recommend how best we can realign the exchange regime to cope with the current physical and monetary challenges the country is undergoing. This realignment is necessary and I have been always wondering when I see so many umbrellas in the market here on the streets. The umbrellas have turned to become the forexes of exchange and they have become the black market forexes. I wonder when I see somebody with no good cloth and possessing a lot of dollars. Where do they get these dollars from? This is something that all of us should go in to find out because these are the people slaughtering this country.
Well there are foreign hands in that because all the NGOs in our country are banking outside South Sudan and this is not allowed in any country. The NGOs that are working here must bank their money here in South Sudan.
We brought you the NGOs bill, it is in this House whether you where threatened not to pass it or it was you who don’t know want to pass it. It is you and I want you to pass this to increase non oil revenues.
The government has embark on a process for the establishment of the national revenue authority that will ensure professional mechanism for the efficient and effective improvement of non oil revenue collection. The establishment of the national revenue authority will be finalized as soon as the national assembly passes the relevant bill and I will readily sign it into law once it reach my table.
You’re Excellencies, Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members
The shock to our economy which I mentioned earlier has resulted in creating difficulties for people due to inadequate essential basic goods in the market. I feel that the steps that we have taken to address the economic challenges will relieve our people from their suffering.
Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members
Your government has already begun the process of the implementation of the peace agreement by setting up committees to prepare and receive the advance team from the SPLM/A-IO and FDs (Former Detainees) that are expected to arrive in Juba in the next few days. We also expect the IDPs to be repatriated, rehabilitated and resettled in their home areas.
We shall also undertake the reintegration of the SPLM/A-IO forces into the army the other organized forces and services while we prepare for the establishment of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) our immediate priorities are:
- Operationalisation of the permanent cease fire and the Transitional Security Arrangement (PCTSA).
- Renovation of destroyed schools and hospitals.
- Provision of clean drinking water.
- The rehabilitation and renovations of physical infrastructures in the war affected areas.
All these problems need money. The Ministry of Finance and Economic planning is here directed to prepare his patient key budget for the implementation of the agreement therefore we need support from our development partners and friends in order to improve to achieve the smooth implementation of this agreement.
Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members
In the context of the region, I made an application for membership in the East African Community back in 2011. Over the course of the last years, the government has undertaken negotiations for South Sudan assertion to the Community. The negotiations have now been concluded. The key outcome from the negotiations is that South Sudan meets the criteria for assertion to the EAC. The issues of South Sudan membership will now be discuss at the EAC summit of states later these months.
This is the key step for South Sudan becoming a part of the community. Since the independence, South Sudan has a unique opportunity to return to the East Africa region as an important political and economic player. As members of the community, we will enhance our cooperation with the region in a variety of areas including governance, economic, political and defense areas. Becoming a member of the EAC will strengthen South Sudan as a state. Our country will become a member of the region that as one of the fastest economic growth in the world.
As the small economy South Sudan cannot compete in the international market alone. Together with the EAC we will stand a better chance to compete and export globally.
May I know take this opportunity on your behave to thank the IGAD Head of States and government IGAD partners, the International Community and friends of South Sudan with their role to return peace to South Sudan.
In conclusion, I reiterate that my government will exert all its effort to meet this cost. However with current level of oil prices it will be hard for the government alone to shoulder this expenses. I therefore appeal o the international community and friends of South Sudan – if they are there; to continue supporting us for the implementation of this agreement.
Finally I appeal to all of you to welcome your brothers, your sisters, your sons and your daughters as they come back home to South Sudan.
Welcome them with open hearts, reconcile, forgive each other, forget the past, open new pages, create trust, build confident amongst your selves and live in peace and harmony.
To this end I would like you my people I would I like you to know that we have more things that unit us then those that divide us. Let us unite our ranks for the overall interest of our people and that of our young nation South Sudan.
I thank you very much for listening and may the almighty God bless you and South Sudan.
This speech was transcribed by SSB but the opinion expressed here is solely the view of President Salva Kiir Mayardit. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.
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