The Significance of Infrastructural Development as a Foundation for Social Prosperity and Stability in South Sudan
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The importance of financial support to build the infrastructure required for the development of South Sudan
By Francis M.Malwal, Houston, Texas, U.S.A
Friday, June 12, 2020 (PW) — South Sudan became an independent country in 2011. At that time, its Gross Domestic Product per capita was $ 1,516. In 1960 when Singapore got its independence from Malaysia, its GDP per capita was $ 320, which means that South Sudan was in a better economic position than Singapore at autonomy.
However, today Singapore is one of the first growing economies with a GDP per capita risen to an incredible $ 60,000. In this article, I evaluate the experience of Singapore and contrast it with South Sudan’s economic development policy.
From 1963-1975, Singapore received more than 14 loans from the World Bank. The first ten loans mainly invested in infrastructure sectors that include water interconnection, port extension, sewage, power plan, and telecommunication.
The leaders of Singapore from the beginning recognized the significance of the infrastructure as a foundation for development. On the other hand, Leaders of South Sudan did not acknowledge that secret. Instead, they embarked on building individuals’ wealth before the nation. Therefore, we missed the golden opportunity that will never repeat itself.
Because our GDP per capita in 2011 was 4.7 times of Singapore at their independence. No country on earth has developed or attracted investors without infrastructure, like Roads, clean waters, electricity, and political stability.
More importantly, the Singapore leader was taught about fighting corruption and bribery. Anyone caught involved in the crime was sentenced at least 20 years in jail. As a result, corruption has never got suitable ground to grow in Singapore.
However, in South Sudan, the atmosphere was conducive for crime and institutional corruption to flourish. The weakness of the South Sudan leaders and lack of political will, accountability, experience, have all contributed to the current state of affairs in South Sudan.
Although this weakness is the outcome of prolonged civil war, no excuse for not hiring smart people to set that weakness off, anyone who has money today can hire smart people to get the job done. Unfortunately, that was not the case for the SPLM leaders. They claim to know everything, and they don’t need to call an expert in a particular area, and their oblivion has torn the country down.
Despite the sharp decline in the South Sudan economy, the leaders are not aware of the uncertainty ahead of us. Imagine if your monthly income dropped sharply from $ 3485 in 2010 to $ 245 in 2020. I guess you should be worried and start adjusting your behaviors, your spending, and the way you handle money.
That is the typical current situation in South Sudan. Nevertheless, the leaders are in complete denial of South Sudan’s financial health. Nobody cares, so there is no adjustment of lavish lifestyles; officials still occupy luxurious hotels at the expense of taxpayers. Moreover, the worst part is that there is no rescue strategy to turn miserable failure into a tremendous success.
South Sudan is currently bankrupt, and there is a need for an urgent rescue plan to save the country. South Sudan’s current GDP per capita is $ 245 or even less since the estimate was made before the ongoing pandemic impact on the economy. So South Sudan needs financial support, but who will support a corrupt government?
Given our ongoing foreign relationship, it is likely South Sudan would get any loans from the world bank. Now, it is a rule of the government to start a serious fight against corruption and build broken foreign relations with influential countries in the world because, without a clear strategy, South Sudan deemed to fail.
To sum up, the government rescue plan should include; starting a serious fight against corruption, strengthening foreign relations with influential countries in the world to secure the funds needed to build the infrastructure.
The author, Francis M.Malwal (B.Pharm, M.Pharm, FPGEC), is a South Sudanese based in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. He is a former head department of Pharmacology, University of Juba, college of Medicine, and chairman of Establishment committee of African’s National Party. He can be reached via his email:francismalwal@gmail.com
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