Written by: Badr Ahmed

South Sudan’s Minister of Finance and Planning, Chol Daniel Ayol, discussed with the UK Ambassador to Juba, David Ashley, and the Norwegian Ambassador, Roar Hogsdal, ways to enhance economic cooperation between South Sudan and its international partners, with a focus on developing public financial management and promoting transparency in the management of government resources.

This meeting comes as part of the South Sudanese government’s efforts to promote economic stability and expand development partnerships with donor countries, in light of increasing economic challenges facing the country, including inflation rates, a liquidity crisis, and public budget pressures.

Improving the efficiency of public spending is the focus of South Sudan's talks with London and Oslo.

During the meeting, the Minister of Finance affirmed the government’s commitment to continuing to implement comprehensive reforms in public financial management, with the aim of strengthening the principles of transparency and accountability, which will contribute to raising the level of trust between the government and its international partners, and open the way for more support and investments in vital sectors.

The minister explained that the government's current priorities include achieving macroeconomic stability, working to curb inflation, addressing the liquidity shortage crisis in the local market, in addition to bridging the deficit in the general budget, and diversifying national income sources away from near-total dependence on the oil sector.

He also noted that the government’s plans include improving the efficiency of public spending, directing resources towards basic development priorities, foremost among them paying the salaries of civil servants, and funding government programs related to basic services and infrastructure.

For their part, the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Norway stressed the importance of strengthening the principles of financial transparency and accountability as a prerequisite for developing sustainable economic partnerships and supporting the path of economic reforms in South Sudan, affirming their countries’ commitment to continuing cooperation with the government in this regard.

The two diplomats stressed that improving public financial management is a key entry point for enhancing the confidence of the international community and opening up broader prospects for cooperation in the areas of development and investment, especially in light of the challenges facing the South Sudanese economy.

This meeting reflects the continued coordination between the Government of South Sudan and its international partners in the areas of economic reform, at a time when Juba is seeking to restructure its financial policies and enhance its ability to meet economic and social challenges, in order to ensure more sustainable growth in the next phase.