The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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South Sudan made an appeal on Thursday for financial assistance from both the international community and regional partners to support the upcoming general elections slated for later this year.
Martin Elia Lomuro, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, highlighted the inadequacy of government budget allocations for the electoral process. He emphasized the necessity for substantial contributions, especially given the considerable financial demands associated with conducting elections and drafting a new constitution, coupled with the existing economic challenges faced by the country.
Speaking during a plenary session of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, Elia pledged to provide detailed budget breakdowns for scrutiny by regional and international stakeholders. He stressed the importance of transparency in the process, inviting potential donors to assess where they could offer support in South Sudan’s pursuit of a democratic transition by December 2024.
Elia revealed that the government requires $40 million to draft a new constitution, with a supplementary budget proposed to cover only 63 percent of this amount.
Additionally, he outlined the estimated costs of facilitating the electoral process, totaling $228.1 million, for which the government has allocated a supplementary budget covering only 15 percent of the total expenses, including necessary security provisions.
