The National Council of Ministers on Friday approved US$250,000 for the Ministry of Youth and Sports to organize a conference to raise US$9.08 million for the men and women teams.
Addressing reporters after the meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir in Juba, Information, Communication Technology and Postal Service Minister Michael Makuei said the Cabinet listened to a presentation from his Youth and Sports counterpart, Dr Joseph Geng Akec, who said the budget would fund the basketball, football, volleyball and the athletics teams for both men and women.
“The conference will be held here in Juba from November 26 -28, and he is requesting US$250,000 to help raise US$9.08 for funding these teams,” Makuei said
“The Minister for Finance was directed to provide the funds to the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” he added.
The Government Spokesman further said the Cabinet also listened to a presentation by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Justice Ruben Madol Arol, on the Montreal Protocol on the Substances depleting the ozone layer.
“This protocol was passed by the UN on September 16, 1987 and is supposed to be adopted by every country. Today, the Ministry of Justice tabled it before the Council of Minister. It was first passed by the governance cluster and the Council of Ministers passed it today with a directive to the Minister to table it before the National Legislature for deliberation and adoption,” he said.
Makuei said the Cabinet also listened to a presentation from the Minister of Interior, Angelina Teny, on the recent attack on Murle cattle traders along the Juba-Bor Road, which resulted in the death of about 20 people and injuries to others.
He said the Cabinet condemned the incident and called on the Interior Minister to investigate it and bring the perpetrators to book.
Makuei said the Cabinet also listened to a presentation from the Minister for Finance on the recent annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said the government delegation met the World Bank Group and the latter decided to increase their support from US$1.26 billion to US$1.68 billion this year.
“They also met the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the IMF decided to offer a sum of US$1.9 billion in three years. They also met the Horn of Africa Initiative and had a bilateral engagement with the US and the UK. The two promised to support the elections in December 2026.
“They also met the African Development Bank, the Exim Bank and Pandemic Fund. Under the pandemic fund, they managed to secure US$3.9 billion for Mpox and any other health disasters that may come up, and they met the Kwait Fund for Arab Development, which promised to fund some projects like hospitals, roads and bridges. They also met the East African Community members,” Makuei explained.