Opinion: Ten (10) States for South Sudan, a right thing to do

February 19, 2020 Opinions

Opinion,

By: Reat Nhial Tuany

Hon. Reat Nhial Tuany Former SPLMIO Representative to Nigeria & ECOWAS

February 20, 2020 (SSNN)—On February 15, 2020 President Salva Kiir Mayardit stunned the nation when he announced to reduce the number of States in the Republic of South Sudan from a staggering (32) States to (10) states, with an additional (3) administrative areas: Abyei, Ruweng and Boma.

The idea to increase the number of states in the country was a brain child of Dr. Riek Machar Teny, a former First Vice President-turned rebel leader. He first introduced 21 States in his then stronghold Pagak, Maiwut County when he attempted to wrestle control of the government from President Kiir during the peak of the civil war. He cited a defunct British Colonial era map as reasons for doing so. As a tit for tat, President Salva Kiir Mayardit took it a notch higher and recreated his own geographical map, carving the country to 32 states. The people in the opposition were furious and claimed that the process was unfair to certain communities as lands were annexed.

This week when the news came out on SSBC in a Presidential Decree, citizens jubilated while other were not. The folks affected by the decree were the 32 former Governors. Obviously, they were not prepared for the political implications as it means many will roam the streets with no titles. Their Stardoms were dwarfed.

When the states were increased four years ago, it was lauded as taking the development to the people in the rural farming communities. But in reality, it elevated poverty of the ordinary families, widows, orphans, unemployed and the folks who were internally displaced by war.

The bulk of the budgets which were allocated to the former states, went to salaries of the Governors, State Cabinets, State MPs and the County Commissioners. If these funds were used wisely, it can be enough to build clinics, hire teachers, or improve the quality of roads in the country. It is no secret some official in the states were benefiting financially at an alarming rate with no services to deliver to the people.
The Ten States solution is the right thing to do as it returns the number of states to the pre independence years. It will make the government lean, reduce wasteful spending by the powerful state executives and make resources manageable.

The next appointees in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU) should be developmental oriented technocrats, who will put the people first than self, and prepare for the big responsibility ahead to fix the broken systems and deliver services to the people.

With all being said, congratulations to the President of the Republic for his bold decision to bring the country together after years of turmoil and uncertainty. The guns must silence for good, embrace peace, unite and rebuild once more. The President and his FVP designate can do more for the country in bridging the divide, build trusts and bring back our countrymen and women who are languishing in refugee camps in East Africa.

The author is a Former Director for Administration and Finance, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure & Rural Development, Upper Nile State-Malakal, also a Former Administration official at the Ministry of Interior GHQrs-Juba & Recently a Former SPLMIO Representative to Nigeria & ECOWAS
He can be reached at: tuany2tuany@gmail.com

The opinions and press releases expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors, any veracity lies solely on the authors or the institutions represented by the authors.
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