South Sudan lawmaker resigns over worsening economy

North Africa Sudan
September 20, 2024

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August 25, 2024 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese lawmaker has resigned, accusing the Juba government of failing to tackle the worsening economic situation in the country.

Peter Mabior Riiny Lual, who also served as a Commissioner in the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), is a member Of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).

His resignation letter is addressed to South Sudan’s Vice President for Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi.

Lual said his decision was inspired by conditions in a country where about 70% of the population remains illiterate, with a chronic lack of quality schools and hospitals as people are dying from hunger and preventable diseases.

“We cannot continue to call ourselves leaders when the very people we serve are dying and leaders are illegitimately getting rich at their expense. People are dying from preventable diseases when men and women entrusted with service delivery fly out to get treatment for malaria and other diseases that can be treated in Juba taking with them millions of US dollars as allowances”, penned the former legislator.

He admitted that he had come to realize that they “are misleaders and South Sudanese are unlucky to be led by political conmen and had sincerely believed that opposition was going to change the political trajectory of our country by opposing failed SPLM (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement) led government and be the voice of the people. This has turned out not to be the case. It would be a waste of time and energy staying in that Parliament”.

“Please accept this notice as my formal resignation as a Member of Parliament and as a Commissioner in the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). I understand the party Chairman is Dr. Costello Garang Riiny, but since you are an SSOA representative as well as a high-ranking official from our party, I see it important to address this letter to you,” he said.

My resignation should not come to you as a surprise. Remember in the middle of last year, I asked you whether you still remember what we fought for and why we signed the agreement with the government. You never gave me a reply. You will think that I must be mad to resign. You believe this government is a man from heaven and it is an opportunity to get rich. I see it otherwise”, added the ex-lawmaker.

Lual further expressed concerns that about 70% of the population in the country are illiterate, there is a chronic lack of quality schools and hospitals and people are dying from hunger and preventable diseases.

“In my opinion, our daily thinking should be preoccupied with how we can save our people from poverty. But, s”ince we are doing nothing to help our people, I see it fit to resign,” said the former MP.

He added, “I am resigning because serving in this government has become a mockery and a scam. My resignation should also tell others that, I am an independent thinker and I can quit when I believe what I am doing is against my belief and conscience”.