GOSS Prepares Regional Budget If South Secedes

17 November 2010 – (Juba) – The GOSS has proposed a budget of 36 million US dollars to run a-would-be independent south Sudan after the January 9th referendum.

The 2011 budget is composed of four core governmental areas of focus which includes executive leadership, rule of law and law enforcement, natural resources management, fiduciary management and public administration.

Presenting the drafted budget to be discussed by key implementing partners and government officials on Wednesday, the GOSS minister of Finance and Economic Planning, David Deng Athorbei outlined the functions of each sector.

[Deng Athorbei]: “In the executive leadership, we would like support to GOSS and state communications and building broad base support for GOSS development plan. In the rule of law and enforcement, we shall be looking at the completion of building Rajaf Police Training Center. In fiduciary management, we shall be looking to support establishing a new central bank and currency system for southern Sudan. And we shall need support in expanding financial management systems at GOSS and state levels. In public administration, we are looking at improvement in the payroll through integration of payroll system and human resource management system without privileges to the policy of decentralization. Natural resources need strengthening of oil revenue management and the legal framework for oil production.”

Currently, southern Sudanese are registering for the crucial vote which shall determine the political, social and economic future of the region.

Minister Athorbei said that financing the core government functions shall increase the delivery of services to southern Sudanese compared to previous years.

[Deng Athorbei]: “The total is approximately thirty six million dollars. Allocating money to these sectors will strengthen GOSS ability to deliver key services and development to the people of southern Sudan. And 2011 will see more funds than ever transferred to states for crucial service delivery functions.”

The meeting of the NGOs and GOSS officials shall further lead to discussion on how the government shall improve generation of non-oil revenues in the region after the referendum.