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Restructuring the South Sudanese Federal Government: Political or Human Factor?

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On July 23, 2013, President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued some of the most courageous political/administrative decrees of all time, relieving the nation's longstanding vice president of his post, suspending the chief administrator, the Secretary General of the ruling party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), dissolving the executive branch of the government, and restructuring the federal ministries.

Previously, the president had issued a series of orders suspending two federal ministers and his office administrators over alleged financial theft and dismissing democratically elected state governors. Of these recent orders, notwithstanding the constitutional test some may face, the most admired by the public is the restructuring of the ministries, partly because of the perceived positive influence of a smaller government on social accountability and the efficiency of a smaller and leaner government.  The decree reduced the federal ministries from 29 to 19. Of course, like majority of the population, President Kiir believes that downsizing the government at the national level may enhance service delivery at the grassroots, validating ensuing public delights. President Kiir subsequently pleaded with the state governors to follow suit. Undoubtedly, this move excited hopes in the population that suffers serious under-funding for development and social services, often with federal institutions spending more than states or counties. Similarly, the shakeups are praiseworthy in that they may eventually help streamline a system that is currently administered by a great deal of venal politicians. Interestingly, the whole affair surfaced in the wake of a politically heightened disgruntlement within the ruling party, suggesting that the just-induced changes may have not been a product of genuinely coordinated vision/program in response to citizenry's aspirations or pleas. Perhaps being politically vindictive and emotional risk being characteristic of the presidential verdict.

Read the entire policy brief here.

By Augustino Ting Mayai

Augustino Ting Mayai is the Director of Research at the Sudd Institute. Augustino's major research interests include childhood mortality differentials in Sudan and South Sudan, applied quantitative methodology (econometrics), applied development research, social accountability and public service delivery, and the demography of conflicts and violence.

Photo credits to Al Jazeera English on Flickr, used under creative commons.

About the Author

Augustino Ting Mayai


Africa Program

The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations.    Read more