In South Sudan, the recent rupture of a vital oil pipeline has worsened an already dire economic situation, plunging the nation deeper into crisis.
The oil-dependent economy has been reeling from a significant drop in revenues since the pipeline, which passes through war-torn Sudan, was damaged in February.
This latest blow has further strained the fragile country, where even the security forces have gone without pay for nine months.
The economic turmoil has led to unrest in the capital, Juba, where protests over unpaid salaries have begun to surface.
South Sudan’s economy, heavily reliant on oil exports via Sudan, has been hit hard by the chaos engulfing its northern neighbor.
The pipeline rupture has only intensified the ongoing financial challenges, which stem from years of mismanagement and corruption.
In Juba, the capital, the frustration is palpable. Maburuk Kuyu Surur, a 60-year-old deputy head teacher, has been teaching for 36 years and has never seen a salary delay of this magnitude.
Despite teaching for decades, Surur and his colleagues have resorted to collecting small amounts of money from students’ families to survive, even though schooling is supposed to be free.
“We are suffering,” he lamented, describing the desperate measures educators are taking to make ends meet.
The government, led by President Salva Kiir since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, is struggling to navigate the economic storm.
The finance ministry has seen a revolving door of leadership, with six ministers appointed since 2020, the latest of whom was fired in July. The constant changes at the top have done little to alleviate the economic woes, and the lack of consistent financial leadership has only deepened the crisis.
Government Offices Abandoned Amid Salary Delays
Recent visits to government ministries and other offices in Juba by reporters revealed that many of them are mostly empty during working hours.
Those who remain are demoralized and weary, having endured nearly a year without pay. One government worker, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, shared that her monthly salary, when it eventually arrived, was equivalent to just $8.
In response, she sought additional employment at a restaurant, where she now earns around $20. “Prices keep rising every day,” she noted, pointing out that the cost of basic goods, such as maize flour, has skyrocketed in the past year.
South Sudan is grappling with inflation rates of 35%, according to the World Bank. The local currency has plummeted in value against the U.S. dollar, both on the black market and at the official exchange rate, further compounding the financial strain.
While a third of South Sudan’s oil continues to flow for export via an alternate pipeline, President Kiir has expressed frustration over the country’s ongoing mismanagement.
With oil revenues dwindling, the government has been forced to rely more on non-oil revenue sources, such as taxes on imported goods, yet these funds have not reached government accounts.
“We have nine solid months people have not received their salaries, and we have money,” President Kiir declared after swearing in the latest finance minister.
He instructed the minister to establish a single account for all revenues and to crack down on corrupt practices within the revenue collection process.
Moreover, poverty and displacement are widespread, with the U.N. reporting that 75% of South Sudan’s population relies on humanitarian aid.
The country is exploring alternative sources of revenue, such as tourism and agriculture, but these efforts have yet to bear significant fruit.
As salaries remain unpaid, some members of the security forces and civil servants are turning to alternative means of survival.
Akol Deng, a member of the armed forces, decided to leave his government position to become a charcoal broker, supplying fuel to local restaurants and residential areas.
The future of South Sudan remains uncertain as the nation grapples with economic hardship and political instability.
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