Urgent Call for Accountability Ahead of 8th Governors’ Forum in South Sudan
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), raised alarm bells on Thursday regarding the impending 8th Governors and Chief Administrators Forum scheduled for November 26-29. His remarks reflect growing concerns over the lack of accountability and implementation of prior resolutions that were produced in earlier forums.
Speaking at a press conference, Yakani emphasized the importance of the forum as a critical intergovernmental platform aimed at fostering collaboration between national and state authorities in matters of service delivery, governance, and peacekeeping. However, he lamented that past recommendations have often gone unheeded, leading to frustration among civil society groups advocating for effective governance.
“The recommendations and resolutions from the Governors’ Forum are often ignored, and this repeated negligence has resulted in a decline in accountability among our leaders,” Yakani stated. He noted that changes in political leadership frequently disrupt continuity and commitment to previously established agreements, making it crucial for a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism to be put in place.
Yakani called on South Sudan’s President to use his upcoming address at the forum to announce clear strategies for holding state governors and national ministers accountable for the implementation of resolutions. He advocated for the inclusion of civil society representatives in the monitoring process to ensure that governance reforms remain a priority, regardless of leadership changes.
“There is a pressing need for transparency, especially as we have seen reluctance among state governors and national ministers to prioritize the recommendations from the previous forums,” he said. Yakani also underscored the need for a detailed evaluation of the recommendations from the 7th Governors’ Forum prior to the opening of the 8th forum, insisting on a comprehensive report that outlines where past efforts have faltered.
His comments come in the wake of frustrations voiced by state leaders, including the Governor of Eastern Equatoria, Louis Lobong, regarding the ineffective transfer of funds and resources from the national to the state level. The concerns echo a wider call for reforms in how financial management is approached at both levels of government.
As civil society groups prepare for the forthcoming forum, Yakani’s appeal stands as a crucial reminder of the ongoing challenges in South Sudan’s political landscape, where accountability and governance remain in a precarious balance.
In a country where the delivery of essential services remains erratic and governance structures are still being defined, the success of the upcoming forum will hinge on whether leaders choose to prioritize and act on the actionable insights that emerge from these discussions.
This article outlines the key points of concern raised by Yakani in a manner suited for publication, drawing attention to issues of governance, accountability, and civil society’s role in South Sudan’s ongoing political landscape.
