South Sudan’s government has announced that it cancelled a plan to hold a celebration of the country’s independence on the 9 July anniversary this year due to economic crisis.
Speaking to journalists after the cabinet meeting on Friday, Michael Makuei, Information Minister, said the government resolved not to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the independence due to lack of money.
“As you know very well, we usually celebrate the 9th July that is our independence day and usually at this particular month, preparations for the celebrations should have started,” said Makuei.
“But due to our economic situation, and the situation in which we are now, and bearing in mind that preparations every years take a lot of money, the minister in the office of the president requested the cabinet to approve that this year we should not be celebrating the 9th July because of expenses,” he explained.
However, the government spokesman said the day will be observed normally as a public holiday and that President Salva Kiir will just issue a statement to address the people of South Sudan.
Makuei indicated that previous years’ celebrations usually cost a budget amounting to 10 million South Sudanese pounds to cover the event.
“If we can get that amount, if we have this amount, we prefer to use it for addressing our concerns, our problems in the economy, issues of payment of salaries and so forth,” he added.
South Sudan is currently experiencing strikes involving judges, doctors, teachers and university lecturers. Its inflation rate is reported to be the highest in the world.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011 as the outcome of a 2005 agreement that ended Africa’s longest-running civil war.
File photo: President Salva Kiir and Gen. Paul Malong on Independence Day 2015