The Visa Waiver Between South Sudan and the East Africa Community Is a Disaster in the Making – Part 1
IGAD Nations
Peter Aketch Amet, Juba, South Sudan
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 (PW) — Late last year, the governments of some East African member States announced the breakthrough in what they termed as a “travel and trade boost milestone” move by removing the travelers’ visa.
This issue has been lingering within and in the minds of people who might be skeptical about the blessings or curses that would come with the waiver of visa fees for the south Sudanese, Kenyans and Ugandans alike. I believe in check and balance system before making final decisions about things that are of importance to the Nation.
I have kept asking myself what could be the economic benefits to South Sudan as a Country? Is this move really helping the economic recovery of our country? Is this waiver a good one for a country which export nothing to the reciprocating countries, but import everything from these countries like ours?
As it is important to hold your horses while mediating on an issue to avoid prejudicial act, I have taken a look at what it means for us and our brothers/sisters from the said countries which have issued same order waiving the visa fees for the South Sudanese as their citizens will also receive the same treatment from us and these are some of the differential advantages.
Firstly, South Sudanese travel a lot more than their fellow Kenyans and Ugandans. This has nothing to do with searching for where they could dig out some economic resources to build their homes back in the country. It has nothing to do either with generating resources of economic importance as opposed to their fellows from the rest of East Africa region.
In a layman’s language, South Sudanese travel to spend money to gain nothing tangible from the countries which have allowed them free visa entry. When we travel, it is to go spend money on medicals, education, tourism and leisure, nothing important than the travel of Kenyans and Ugandans into South Sudan who come to make millions of US Dollars per annum at the expenses of our common people. No business protection at all, all are allowed to venture into small scale business enterprises—-something that would be an insane move if tried by a South Sudanese in either Kenya or Uganda.
This is because there is a greater difference between what their governments do to favour their citizens and what our government do to make for us economic activities unfavourable.
For example, in Uganda and Kenya, no foreign citizen is allowed to run a micro-business or any other retailing enterprise whatsoever the case maybe, it is illegal to establish and run a business yourself. Anyone can start a business, but a large-scale business which will employ Kenyans and Ugandans, and moreover, will be fully run by their own citizens. The owner receives a report for what has been done and not necessarily involved in the management and operation of the business.
More so, it is regulated that a foreigner must always be an “investor” not a “trader” or “Vendor” as allowed here for anybody to do anything they feel they can make money out of it. This “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN” business regulatory manner is not permitted in Kenya and Uganda.
I have thoroughly walked and trekked through each and every corner of Juba City— every slum area and small marketing centres and have found millions of disgusting small-scale enterprises by foreigners. In fact, I was heartbroken million times to see even selling of “ice creams” leave alone the hawking of clothes, chapati, groceries, boda-boda riding, being a lucrative business for the foreigners.
If they can come and indulge in these micro-economic activities, what then will we do as citizens and the likes of Hon. Michael Makwei Lueth terms us as “Lazy youths who are used to spoon feeding”. Oh really! What food have they fed us on with spoon? The dust their v8s stir into our dried and drained eyes, mouths, and lungs?
Hey folks, sorry! I seem to be running emotional and lost in what I was precisely trying to put forth for our open and plain discussion. After scrutinizing the narrative above, is it an evil in disguise or a necessity to common South Sudanese?
You can reach the author via his email: Aketch Peter Amet <aketchamet@gmail.com>
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