National Conversation South Sudan Forum
Revitalized Agreement on The Resolution of The Conflict on South Sudan
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27/07/2021 2:10 am
CHAPTER IV: RESOURCE, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
4.8. Resource Management
4.8.1. Oil /Petroleum
With oil being the predominant source of South Sudan’s national income, the R-ARCSS acknowledges that revenues generated from the sale of crude oil are regarded as national heritage, to be shared equitably among South Sudanese communities. Owing to the fact that control over the benefits from oil resources is one of the motivators of political conflicts in the country, the framework for the sharing of oil resources can either strengthen the consolidation of a fragile peace or exacerbate conflict.
Under this Article, the R-TGONU is required to ensure the transparent management of the oil sector in order to enable equitable distribution of oil wealth for the welfare and prosperity of our civil population, and sustainable development of the country. In fact, the oil sector reform stipulated in the Agreement means transparent and fair generation, collection and sharing of all oil revenues. Almost to three years since the formation of unity government, our peoples are still not made aware of who collects oil revenues, and how the revenues are distributed.
Under this provision, it is clearly stated that oil and other natural resources belong to our civil population and it is for their benefit that these resources should be exploited. To get competent persons that can work for the said civil population, the Agreement mandated the R-TGONU to review the current employment in oil sector particularly the oil operating companies, and make amends where the hiring process has not been based on merit.
Unfortunately, the council of ministers came up with a curious Resolution No.08/2021, which only rewards those who have captured the oil industry. While it should not be denied that those employed in the oil companies deserve benefits and better wages, employment in oil sector has not been fair. Rather, it is largely based on ethnic and political considerations where the majority of those employed in the oil companies are relatives of the traditional elites. Thus, their salaries, even if in millions of dollars, cannot benefit the whole South Sudanese civil population. What the Agreement requires of R-TGONU is a policy on how to fairly allocate the oil revenues to our peoples in all ten States of South Sudan, use these revenues to empower the economies in rural areas and point our country to the path of poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth.
The NCSS believes that transparent and equitable sharing of oil revenues per the instruction of R-ARCSSS can be one of the determining factors of restoring harmony and unity among our peoples. To get full details on Chapter IV, follow the link: https://nationalconversationssd.com/community/postid/127/
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