The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) has approved 150 million South Sudanese Pounds for establishing the Ministry of Peace to ensure lasting peace is achieved in the country.

Cabinet Affairs Minister, Martin Elia Lomoro, said this was significant   in ensuring the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“You know the Ministry of Peace is very important in terms of implementation of the agreement and that it has now been approved structure, the workforce, the Minister is directed to establish the ministry forthwith,” Lomoro said.

Since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in September 2018, there has been slow implementation pace with most of key provisions related to governance, security arrangement remained outstanding.

Recently, the Ceasefire, Transitional Security Arrangement, Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) said thousands of joint forces in various training centers were deserting due to hardships, threatening peace implementation, which could drag citizens back to suffering.

The lack of full establishment of state government creating power vacuum in states has also been lamented by the ceasefire monitoring body, calling on the government to expedite the process to create hope among locals.  

No reasons have been made public about the delay in the peace implementation processes, especially security arrangement. But the SSPDF Spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Kuong recently said lack of finance could not enable passing out of the first batch of necessary unified forces who have already completed the training.

However, South Sudan has been experiencing tough economic crisis since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic which drastically cut down the global oil prices, the country’s main source of income which accounts for about 98 per cent revenues. 

Speaking to press immediately after the weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit last Friday. Lomoro also stated that the government had approved another 150 million pounds for preparation a head of fully reopening of schools, targeting 175 schools across the country with estimated 119 pupils each.

Lomoro however, said the government has already taken tough measures that will ensure the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning is empowered and reformed to bring the country back to economic stability.

“Revenue collecting agencies must stop collecting cash. All revenues must be collected through the commercial banks into a block account so that the Ministry of Finance is in control – This is now affirmed and any individual or institution that disobeys this directive will be subjected to serious administrative measures,” Lomoro said.