South Sudan is bleeding

We were told that since the oil is flowing to world market, then there should be open ended austerity measures in place. The government seems not to have plan B in place and these measures are taking toll on the people of South Sudan and especially the common people. There reports of deaths of hunger. Crime is on the increase in many parts of the country. Many children and women are drying of curable diseases because of lack of medical care and drugs. No money to buy essential drugs and there is a donor fatigue when international communities are over stretch in providing assistance.

Most if not all of the money earned from local revenue is getting into pockets of the fat guys who are running the government. These have barricaded themselves with ruthless gunmen or bounty killers not to be answerable to court of law such that they can loot withlout importunity.

The country is dripping blood and standing in the pool of blood of the dead countrymen who died for no apparent reason. It is unfortunate that big guys do not realized for how long this country will continue to bleed. The army who should have protected the civilians has been turned into assailants murdering innocent children and women of Murle in Jonglei State. Murle civilians are not dying because of David Yau Yau failing in elections nor it because he is being supported by Khartoum to over throw these big guys in Juba. The Murle are simply dying because Dinka Bor and Lau Nuer want to eradicate them from this face of earth.

The country is bleeding, yes, bleeding because the government in Juba has robbed the country of its resources. Corruption has been institutionalized starting with the head. One cannot comprehend how large some money could disappear from President's office just to mention.

Corruption is at rampage in state like Upper Nile. Take for example, the governor asks the state assembly to approve 150 Million loans for road construction in Malakal town. He gave the Chinese Company 3 Million and Kano Company 1 Million and pocketed 12 Million without impunity. The next youg generation will have to pay for these debts. From CDF given to the counties, he slashed of 40 Million each from the 13 Counties for his own use. A cashier from Ministry of Education took off with 64 Million for teachers in Melut County and vanished in thin air. All government vehicles for referendum, elections and other departmental vehicles have been release to individuals to use as limousines travelling between Renk County , Nasir, Maiwut, Mathiang, Maban and Malakal some kind of lucrative business.

In the oil rich state of unity it is reported people are dying of hunger. During the agricultural season there was documentary SSTV about huge plantation carried out by Australian Company that could have made Unity State food secured. What happened to those farms when now the population is said to be hungry and even dying?

The other sector why South Sudan is bleeding is Oil. It is reported that South Sudan Oil has reached Khartoum and not Bashaar Port at the Red Sea Coast. Why Khartoum? The news of oil following again was received with open mouth plunging out white teeth from black skin head of many southerners as they receive the good news.

Oil sector business is complicated even to oil men in the Ministry of Petroleum in Juba. Take oil the is following from oil fields in Unity State into collection oil point in Hegilig oil facility which was destroyed by SPLA unplanned attack last year. This facility is receiving oil also from fields in Northern Sudan and all is pump to Jaily facility in Khartoum North and Bashaar Port on the Red Sea Coast. How will this combine oil be divided between South Sudan and Sudan on equal bases?

Sudan is not a member of OPAC and thus sells its oil on Open Market better known as Black Market. Oil prices in the open market are well below OPAC prices and fluctuate according to the value of Dollar per stock market. A Chinese oil tycoon may buy this oil and sell to Spot Market in Rotterdam Oil Refineries in Holland. Definitely will be delays in the transaction that may 3 to 6 months before South Sudan could receive their share which could also be subjected to deductions and taxes for damages ensured on Hegilig facilities by SPLA and payment of back arrears to oil companies for period on which they were not functioning due to the decision made by the Government of Sudan for stopping the oil follows some two to three years back. Melut oil is not yet following and will have the same fate like Unity oil i.e. lack of transparency.

It will be miracle calculation and a matter of guessing as to how much revenue South Sudan will receive from oil proceeds especially in country where corruption is the norm of the day and no transparency.

Yes, South Sudan is bleeding because its leaders do not care about its subjects. Southerners will continue to die of hunger and curable diseases. Austerity measures will continue probably beyond 2020 and Dr.Salvatore Kiir will be the president. South Sudan is bleeding.

Yorwin Otor can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Lives in Rome Italy