Japheth Ogila
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The US ambassador to South Sudan, Michael Adler, has challenged the government to step up on issues of accountability and the implementation of the peace agreement to help society transition from donor dependence to self-sustenance.
Mr Adler addressed an event organized for the principals of Rome-based agencies of the United Nations—comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP)—where he called on the government to support development through a conducive environment.
“It is incumbent upon the transitional government to first create an environment that is conducive to development assistance and investment for this shift to take place, so that donors and investors can more effectively help the South Sudanese people,” he stated, in reference to the need to promote reliance and shed off donor dependence.
The diplomat argued that there is no enabling environment to attract investors, and “it will not exist until the transitional government takes steps to meet peace commitments.”
He noted, “Address human rights violations and corruption, and establish transparency in the use of public revenue, including from the oil sector, which accounts for the vast majority of national resources.”
He also urged the donors to likewise adopt the culture of enforcing accountability as they extend their service to the South Sudanese people.
“Just as the transitional government must be accountable to the South Sudanese people, we donors must hold ourselves accountable to our taxpayers back home, and we must consider people in dire need in other countries for whom adequate resources are not available,” he added.
South Sudan is still in dire need of humanitarian assistance after having admitted over 200,000 refugees and returnees from Sudan due to the conflict. On top of this, there are also pre-existing internally displaced persons and refugees who depend on donor support at various camps in the country.
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