South Sudan needs "Cautious" Humanitarian Aid
Through its humanitarian affairs minister, Hussein Mar
Nyout, the government of South Sudan has said it requires $1.5 billion for a
post-conflict recovery plan for 2019. Well, this is one of those issues that you find yourself conflicted about. While
I do not have any doubt that Juba needs aid to handle its post (hope that is
the case) conflict situation, I am at once concerned that - given the structural
deficits and institutional breakdown in that country - pumping money into South
Sudan on humanitarian grounds carries with it a real risk of exacerbating the
official corruption that is already rampant and even fanning new wave of
violence that may cause a relapse into armed conflict.
South Sudan is now a victim and a good example of what I call the "Liberian
syndrome." Any money into South Sudan without thoughtful measures can
easily fuel a relapse. My friend used to say that it is a combination of
weapons, ignorance, alcohol and money that led to the civil war in South Sudan.
That was mean of him. But. Give your billions to some of the thoughtless armed
and drunk criminals who run the Juba administration and you will know that you
don't know! Humanitarian aid to South Sudan at this delicate moment must be
highly regulated if it is to reach and help the most vulnerable citizens of
that country and if we are to guard against its abuse that has a potential to
be catastrophic. Perhaps, we need the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD) more in South Sudan today to support the recovery
process than it was during the actual mediation (conferencing) phase of the
peace process. Tragically, peace has been equated to the signing of a peace
agreement whose implementation is very unlikely.
South Sudan needs "Cautious" Humanitarian Aid
Reviewed by Ibrahim Magara
on
November 22, 2018
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