South Sudan scraps independence celebration as economic crisis bites

So far the five-year-old nation has commemorated every July 9, marking the day it seceded from Sudan in 2011, putting a final full stop to Africa’s longest-running civil war. During the cabinet meeting last Friday, chaired by President Salva Kiir, a resolution was passed cancelling the celebrations this year due to shortages of money in the country.

Two years after their long-fought independence, South Sudanese faced another civil war sparked by competition for political power, which shook the foundation of the new republic. Before its third birthday, the dream of independence and freedom had turned into a nightmare. The liberators risked destroying the very country they had spent decades fighting for. More than two years conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced 2.3 million people from their homes, while millions lack enough to eat.

Speaking to journalists, Michael Makuei Lueth, the country’s Information Minister, said the Office of the President had proposed that this year’s Independence Day should be low-key, on account of the economic crisis. He added that the day would be marked by a presidential speech and smaller celebrations. Makuei indicated that previous years’ celebrations usually cost 10 million South Sudanese pounds to cover the festivities across the country.

If we can get that amount, we prefer to use it for addressing our concerns.

“If we can get that amount, we prefer to use it for addressing our concerns, our problems in the economy, issues of payment of salaries and so forth,” he added, referring to civil servants who have not been paid for months.

The country still faces economic challenges and fighting continues in some places, despite the August 2015 peace agreement signed between President Salva Kiir and the former rebel leader now First Vice President Riek Machar and the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

A drop in oil production to an average of 160,000 barrels per day from 245,000 before the conflict, coupled with the global decline in oil prices, has left the oil-dependent government strapped for income and hard currency. Its inflation rate is reported to be the highest in the world and currently many judges, doctors, teachers and university lecturers are on strike.

Many South Sudanese said it made sense to cancel the party. “I think really there is no reason to celebrate, I mean every pound should be used for provision of basic services to the most disadvantage communities, we can’t spend on the logistics of diplomats when hundreds of South Sudanese are dying of every day across the country,” said the Director of the Initiative for Peace Communication Association Joseph Edward.

I think there are lots of more serious issues than celebration now.

Thorn Deng, who lives in Australia, said that any available budget should be used to compensate those disabled during the many years of war. “I think there are lots of more serious issues than celebration now,” he said.

Meanwhile, others argued that the population needed an event to draw them together at this difficult time. “Otherwise nothing will unite us as a nation full of mistrust,” said Gabriel Kuol, resident of Juba, adding that money shouldn’t be spent on inviting foreign heads of state.

“It is a day to remind us of our heroes and heroines who died for this cause,” said Zacharia Atem, resident of Juba, adding that it should take place.

Meanwhile, Gatluak James who lives at a United Nations camp in Juba, argued the economic argument was a mere excuse for the fact that President Salva Kiir doesn’t want to appear in public with his First Vice President Riek Machar after they failed their nation: “This is clear politics game.”