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Title:

South Sudan seeks international help to count its citizens

Author:

By Waakhe Simon Wudu

Image captions:

Attendees of a meeting convened by the South Sudan Bureau of Statistics and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to mobilise resources for the 2014 census, February 24. © The Niles | Waakhe Simon Wudu

Dr. Riek Machar, South Sudan’s Vice President, February 24. © The Niles | Waakhe Simon Wudu

Isaiah Chol, February 24. © The Niles | Waakhe Simon Wudu

Toby Lanzer, February 24. © The Niles | Waakhe Simon Wudu

Lead:

JUBA – Eying the logistical challenge of the 2014 census, South Sudan has asked for international help in its bid to count its population.

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At a meeting convened by the South Sudan Bureau of Statistics and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the government admitted it would need international help to carry out its planned census.

“The government is fully aware that undertaking a census is first and foremost an act of sovereignty. Nevertheless we need support from development partners to successfully implement the census project particularly given the tied financial situation we are in now,” said Riek Machar, South Sudan’s Vice President, at the meeting.

South Sudan’s government last month endorsed a budget of US$ 92 million to carry out the housing and population census.

Isaiah Chol, Chairperson of the National Bureau and Statistics, said his commission needed US$ 37.8 million for this year, outstripping the US$ 19 million allocated by the government.

“The government is cognisant and appreciative of the role that the development partners play in promoting the development of our country. It is in this spirit that we call on you (donors) to support the forth coming population and housing census exercise,” said Riek.

Conducting the census is a requirement of South Sudan’s transitional constitution.

Riek stressed the importance of reliable statistics, saying it would enable the definition of constituencies for the 2015 elections and the allocation of revenues within the country.

Toby Lanzer, Deputy to the UN Special Envoy to South Sudan and Chief of humanitarian agencies in South Sudan, said the UN fully supports the process. “It is one of the most important moments the country is going to face,” he said.

South Sudan held a controversial population census in 2008. The results, which were rejected as inaccurate by the government, indicated the then semi-autonomous region of Southern Sudan had 8.3 million people.

Toby estimated the country’s population could now stand at over 12 million people. He pointed to population growth of 1.2 million, the return of 1.7 million displaced nationals and the arrival of thousands of refugees from other countries in recent years.

However, he reiterated that the figure can only be accurately determined through a meticulous census process.

Despite the commitment from both the government and partners, political and economic challenges may postpone the planned census.

South Sudan is on the economic brink since shutting down oil production last year, in effect switching off 98 percent of the country’s annual budget. Since then, widespread austerity measures have been imposed.

Meanwhile, internal intertribal and ethnic conflicts and ongoing conflicts with Khartoum in the border regions could also prevent the census’ success.

However, when asked by The Niles, on the likelihood the census will go ahead in 2014, Riek Machar remained optimistic.

“We are definitely confident that the census will take place next year in 2014 because […] insecurity is reducing drastically and it is not at the same rate of 2008,” he said. “This is a major project on which we have anchored many other important programs we got to make it succeed... So we are committed to it. Our development partners are also committed to it.”

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