Editorial: President Kiir’s UN Address – Out of Touch with South Sudan’s Stark Realities
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President Kiir at the 78th UNGA
By PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd.
Friday, 22 September 2023 (PW) — In his address to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Kiir painted a rosy picture of his country’s situation that seems out of touch with the harsh economic realities, dire living conditions and growing instability that plague the nation.
While it’s natural for leaders to accentuate their achievements on the international stage, it is essential to scrutinise the gap between rhetoric and reality.
First, President Kiir’s speech barely scratched the surface of the economic hardships faced by the people of South Sudan. The nation grapples with a worsening financial crisis marked by hyperinflation, skyrocketing food prices, and limited access to essential services. Economic reforms and the National Economic Conference have yet to show much progress in addressing these dire conditions.
Moreover, insecurity remains a pervasive issue, with violence and conflict continuing to disrupt the lives of ordinary South Sudanese. The optimism surrounding the Revitalized Peace Agreement of 2018 has not translated into tangible improvements in security, especially in regions where tribal conflicts and political deadlocks persist.
Secondly, the President’s assertion that South Sudan is committed to fair, transparent, and credible elections in 2024 contradicts the stark political realities. There needs to be more consensus among key stakeholders, notably Dr Riek Machar’s SPLM-IO, regarding the electoral process. This political gridlock threatens the very foundation of democracy in the country, with no clear path forward after the expiration of the current revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU).
Thirdly, tribal conflicts continue to plague South Sudan, tearing at the nation’s social fabric. The President’s speech did little to address the root causes of these conflicts, which often lead to violence and displacement. South Sudan’s leadership must prioritise comprehensive efforts to promote reconciliation and address underlying grievances.
Fourth, President Kiir highlighted efforts to improve education and healthcare, but the reality remains grim. Access to quality education and healthcare is severely limited, and the infrastructure necessary to support these services needs to be more robust. Roads are in disrepair, and healthcare facilities are often substandard or non-existent in many areas.
President Kiir’s commitment to addressing climate change is commendable, but concrete actions must back it. South Sudan needs international support to implement its climate initiatives effectively, especially given its limited resources. The call for developed countries to cut emissions and honour pledges to developing nations is valid. Still, it should be accompanied by domestic measures to reduce South Sudan’s carbon footprint.
Therefore, President Kiir’s address at the UN General Assembly, while filled with good intentions and aspirations, needed to acknowledge the harsh realities faced by South Sudanese citizens. The nation grapples with economic hardship, insecurity, political deadlock, tribal conflicts, and a lack of essential social amenities.
To regain the trust and support of the international community, South Sudan’s leadership must bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality, prioritise the needs of its people, and take decisive actions to address the pressing issues that continue to afflict the nation. Only then can South Sudan genuinely pave the way for a better future for all its citizens.
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