From Conflict to Prosperity: How Economic Policy Can Help Rebuild South Sudan
Let us make 2024 the year when we fully implement our vision of the war of liberation. This vision was articulated in 2004 by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) blueprint – The SPLM Framework for War-to-Peace Transition. But we must first acknowledge that the civil war (2013 -2020) in South Sudan has caused immense damage to the country’s economy, infrastructure, and political stability. The war has left thousands of people dead, displaced millions, and shattered the country’s economic potential. However, with the genuine implementation of the peace agreement and adopting the right economic policies, South Sudan can rebuild its economy and achieve prosperity. In this regard, here are five right economic policies that we think South Sudan can adopt to rebuild its economy and achieve prosperity:
a) Improve the agriculture sector by investing in infrastructure, irrigation systems, and modern farming techniques to improve productivity and increase output;
b) Attract foreign direct investment (FDI) by improving the legal and regulatory framework, reducing corruption, and ensuring the security of investments;
c) Encourage entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing financial support and training and creating a business-friendly environment;
d) Focus on infrastructure development by investing in roads, railways, river transport, and airports to improve connectivity and provide an enabling environment for businesses; and
e) Implement policies that promote political stability, good governance, and peace, which would, in turn, create a conducive environment for economic growth and development.
1. Improve the agriculture sector: Agriculture is the backbone of South Sudan’s economy and provides employment to more than 70% of the population. However, the sector has been severely impacted by the civil war. The government must invest in infrastructure, irrigation systems, and modern farming techniques to revive the agriculture sector to improve productivity and increase output. This will help the farmers create jobs and sustainable livelihoods in the rural areas and ensure food security for the entire country.
2. Attract foreign direct investment (FDI): South Sudan has immense natural resources, including oil, minerals, and timber. The government needs to create a conducive environment for foreign investors by improving the legal and regulatory framework, reducing corruption, and ensuring the security of investments. This will create job opportunities for ordinary South Sudanese citizens and boost economic growth.
3. Encourage entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): SMEs are the backbone of any developing economy, and South Sudan is no exception. The government can encourage entrepreneurship and build a thriving private sector to generate employment and contribute to economic growth by providing financial support and training and creating a business-friendly environment.
4. Focus on infrastructure development: The country has an inadequate network of roads, railways, river transport, and airports, which hinders trade and investment. Hence, the government needs to invest in infrastructure development to improve connectivity and provide an enabling environment for businesses. This will improve the movement of goods and services through a robust supply chain pulled, especially by the infrastructure sector’s operational construction and transportation sub-sectors.
5. Implement policies that promote political stability, good governance, and peace: Political stability, good governance, and peace are critical for economic growth and development. This is because businesses require a stable political environment in order to play a crucial role in the economic growth and development of a country. The government must, therefore, create a conducive environment for businesses by implementing policies that promote political stability, good governance, and peace. This will not only attract foreign investors but will also encourage local investors to invest in the country.
In conclusion, South Sudan could rebuild its economy and achieve prosperity. The government must focus on improving agriculture, attracting foreign direct investment, promoting entrepreneurship, and investing in infrastructure development. By implementing the right economic policies, South Sudan can overcome the challenges of the civil war, achieve sustainable economic growth, and embark on the path to poverty eradication.
