SOUTH SUDAN: Civil Society Urges Leaders to Respect Technical Budget Decisions

By Debora Akur Chol, South Sudan

A prominent civil society voice in South Sudan has appealed to the country’s political leadership to uphold integrity, fairness, and accountability in the national budget process.

Speaking during a public hearing on the Finance Bill and draft national budget in Juba, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), called on leaders to respect the professional decisions made by technical experts within the Ministry of Finance.

“If the experts in the Ministry of Finance, those who work on the budget, have made decisions, we are appealing to you, political leaders, to respect those technical decisions,” Yakani said.

He stressed that leadership carries responsibility and must reflect fairness in resource allocation. Yakani warned against unequal spending authority among ministries, saying no official should have unchecked power to overspend while others operate under strict limitations.

“Let there not be powerful ministers who have the right to overspend, and weak ministers who are forced to underspend. Please, let the budget remain as approved,” he urged.

Yakani also questioned national spending priorities, expressing concern over reports of public fundraising for celebrations while civil servants and members of the organized forces remain unpaid.

“It is disturbing to see civil servants and our soldiers go without salaries for months, yet we hear of public contributions for events. This does not reflect responsible governance,” he stated.

Earlier this month, the Minister of Finance and Planning, Bak Barnaba Chol, tabled the national budget seven months behind schedule. The delay leaves only five months to implement the financial plan before the fiscal year concludes.

South Sudan’s financial year runs from July 1 to June 30, increasing pressure on authorities to ensure effective management of limited resources amid ongoing economic challenges.

Many civil servants have reportedly gone months without pay. Even those who have received salaries face difficulties accessing their money due to persistent cash shortages in banks.

Yakani emphasized that budget discussions must prioritize the welfare of ordinary citizens and translate into tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.

“When we debate the budget, it must speak to the realities of those outside this hall for the common good of the citizens of South Sudan,” he said.

Observers say the call reflects growing public demand for transparency, accountability, and people centered governance as the country nav

igates economic hardship.