Activist Edmund Yakani has appealed to South Sudan government to use oil revenue to support the 2018 peace agreement rather than fuelling conflict.
The activist’s statement followed the resumption of oil export for South Sudan to the international, good news for the country that has been have financial challenges at all cornersincluding peace implementation.
Meanwhile the institutions tasked with implementation of the remain 2018 peace tasks continue to complain of Shortage of Funds and lack of funding from the government.
After the detention of the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar who is the commander in Chief of the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) clashes has been witnessed.
The South Sudan people Defense forces (SSPDF) which is the government forces has been in clashes with the SPLA-IO forces under Dr. Machar in some part of the country.
However, the activist believed that such fighting that use a lot of government revenue like fuel conflict oppose to the peace implementation.
While the government continue to reported clashing with the opposition forces, Yakani cautioned the leaders never to use oil money but rather to support the peace agreement that can lead to peaceful transaction.
The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), expressed that the previous experience in regards to the use oil of oil revenue shown that some of it was use for fuelling conflict.
“CEPO urges the leadership of South Sudan to prioritise the expected oil revenue for supporting the political transitional process and avoid using the oil revenue for fuelling armed violence” Yakani said.
The activist expressed that the reports of low interest of the political leadership in funding peace processes adequately and timely contributed effectively to the current situation that delay elections and essential part of peace agreement.
With country expecting oil money coming back to the economy the Activist appealed to the government officials to stick to the rule of transparency in order to implement peace and deliver services to the people.
“CEPO is urging the government to embrace high-level commitment for transparency and accountability on the utilization of oil generated revenues” he appealed
Adding voices to the other calls on transparency, Yakani emphasized on the need for all the leaders and institution never to repeat previous incidents where oil generated revenues were misused by the government mainly for fuellingviolence with some embezzled by the public officers.
“The past experiences should not be repeated in this face of the resumption of the oil production in 2025, where the country requires national funding for successful political transitional processes” he said.
Meanwhile during a swearing-in ceremony of Addis Ababa Othow the newly appointed governor of Bank of South Sudan (BoSS) and the deputies, President Salva Kiir called for an end to kickback a common termed use by corrupt officials in the system.
