Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The United Kingdom (UK) has warned South Sudan against reliance on humanitarian support from foreign governments amid growing pressure on international aid budgets.
David Ashley, the UK Ambassador to South Sudan, said while his government support the efforts of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, it is the primary responsibility of Juba to ensure the welfare of its people.
“Humanitarian aid cannot be the long-term solution for South Sudan. The world is changing fast, and international aid budgets are facing unprecedented pressure,” Ashley said in a statement published Thursday and viewed by Sudans Post.
“It is therefore imperative that South Sudan uses its own resources more effectively to support the essential needs of its people. The UK can complement, but cannot replace, the efforts of the South Sudanese authorities,” the ambassador added.
Mr. Ashley also emphasised good governance and accountability for aid to reach intended recipients effectively, stating that “To make aid go further requires peace and better governance, things that we can support but which only the Government of South Sudan can ensure.”
The ambassador was announcing $139 million of bilateral humanitarian, health and education assistance for the South Sudanese people from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
This is in addition to the assistance the UK provides to South Sudan through multilateral organisations and initiatives such as the World Bank, Global Partnership for Education and GAVI.
“Given the pressing needs in South Sudan, the UK will provide £103m (USD139m) of bilateral aid this year to help the South Sudanese people face the humanitarian, conflict and climate crises; access healthcare; and get children into school,” said Ashley.
The announcement brought the total of UK bilateral assistance to South Sudan to over $2.7 billion since South Sudan’s independence in 2011. This assistance, the ambassador notes, has changed many lives and helped many hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable South Sudanese access essential services.
Thursday’s announcement comes as the UK seeks to reduce its foreign aid budget. In February 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a cut from 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% by 2027 to fund increased defence spending.
This reduction, estimated to lower the aid budget from about £15.4 billion to £9.2 billion, marks the lowest aid spending level since 1999, according to The Guardian. The decision has drawn criticism from charities and development groups, who warn it could impact millions, particularly in areas like children’s education and women’s health in Africa.
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