South Sudan, the world’s youngest republic, has for decades been ensnared in an intricate web of dependency on external aid and humanitarian relief. From the earliest days of the Anyanya I liberation struggle, through the protracted wars led by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), and even after attaining independence in 2011, the nation has survived less on the robustness of its institutions and more on the generosity of international assistance. This fragile reliance was brutally exposed in the wake of policy directives issued by US President Donald Trump, which culminated in the abrupt withdrawal and closure of numerous humanitarian projects and organizations across the country.
The repercussions have been profound and far-reaching. The exodus of international organizations has extinguished thousands of jobs, leaving South Sudanese households bereft of income and opportunities. Expatriate staff, once the purveyors of technical expertise and international resources, have either retreated to their countries or been rendered redundant. The domino effect has been severe: revenue streams for the government, particularly personal income tax once derived from these workers, have withered, plunging a fragile economy into deeper uncertainty.
This contraction has not merely strained state coffers; it has destabilized entire communities. Families once sustained by the wages of humanitarian workers now confront destitution, while local markets stagnate, robbed of the purchasing power and economic circulation. Unemployment has swelled, livelihoods have collapsed, and poverty has entrenched itself with renewed ferocity.
Moreso the tragedy of South Sudan is not only the prevalence of aid but also the manner in which it has been institutionalized. The establishment of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), ostensibly a permanent governmental body to coordinate humanitarian and development interventions, epitomizes this syndrome. Rather than operating as an impartial and transparent mechanism of coordination, RRC has been consistently blemished by corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and sectarian favoritism. Its officials routinely manipulate the presence of organizations to serve parochial interests, prioritizing their own regions and communities.
This mismanagement has created a false narrative that certain regions are flourishing while others are marginalized. In reality, the country as a whole suffers under the weight of systemic governance failures. Aid, instead of acting as a genuine lifeline for the vulnerable, has often been reduced to a currency of political patronage, deepening divisions and entrenching inequalities.
Compounding this tragedy is the government’s persistent inability or deliberate refusal to establish sustainable systems of national service delivery. Billions of dollars from oil exports, much of it mortgaged in advance through dubious pre-sales, have been squandered to entrench a kleptocratic order. Instead of channeling resources into education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure, revenues are routinely diverted to sustain political loyalty, fuel military patronage, and perpetuate the regime’s grip on power.
The paradox is striking: a state that pleads destitution while sitting upon vast natural wealth, a leadership that mortgages national resources yet cannot provide even rudimentary services to its citizenry. The South Sudanese people find themselves suspended between shrinking humanitarian aid and a state apparatus incapable of delivering necessities.
For South Sudan to transcend this vicious cycle, a radical reconfiguration of governance and service delivery is imperative. The nation must abandon the inertia of aid reliance and instead cultivate a model founded upon accountability, inclusivity, and genuine self-reliance.
The diversification of the economy is paramount. Overdependence on petroleum revenues has left the nation exposed to external shocks and fiscal volatility. Agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and small-scale industries represent untapped potential that, if nurtured, could reposition South Sudan as a regional breadbasket. The fertile soils of the Nile basin, could sustain not only the nation’s food security but also generate surpluses for trade. Investments in seeds, tools, irrigation, and training could unleash a revolution in productivity, resilience, and economic independence.
Equally urgent is the reform of public financial management. The kleptocratic siphoning of national wealth must be arrested through rigorous transparency, independent auditing, and uncompromising anti-corruption enforcement. Oil revenues should be strategically redirected into sovereign wealth funds and stabilization reserves that prioritize long-term investments in social services and infrastructure rather than the ephemeral sustenance of political patronage networks.
Decentralized service delivery offers another avenue for meaningful transformation. Empowering local governance, while ensuring they remain transparent, inclusive, and accountable in order to bridge the gaps of marginalization. Such decentralization would allow communities to determine their developmental priorities, reducing the stranglehold of centralized corruption while fostering equity across diverse regions.
Furthermore, the participation of citizens, civil society, and faith-based institutions must be harnessed as a bulwark against impunity. These actors can articulate local needs, monitor service delivery, and act as guardians of accountability. By embracing them as partners rather than adversaries, the government can restore public trust and rebuild a fractured social contract.
Finally, South Sudan must reposition its external engagements. While aid dependence is unsustainable, constructive partnerships are indispensable. The country must approach the international community as a potential partner for trade, investment, and technical cooperation. By integrating into regional blocs such as the East African Community, South Sudan could leverage opportunities in cross-border trade, infrastructure, and agricultural development.
The closure of humanitarian projects following Trump’s policy directives has exposed the fragility of South Sudan’s aid-dependent paradigm. The nation now stands at a crossroads. It can either continue down the treacherous path of kleptocracy, corruption, and dependency, or embrace reform, innovation, and sovereignty.
The government can no longer invoke poverty as an alibi while presiding over squandered wealth. The time has come to abandon survival politics and instead embark upon genuine nation-building. This means delivering services not as favors dispensed for loyalty, but as rights to all citizens.
Breaking the chains of dependency will undoubtedly be arduous, but it is the only way to reclaiming dignity, sovereignty, and prosperity. For far too long, South Sudanese have subsisted on handouts while their leaders mortgaged the nation’s future. The moment has arrived for bold leadership to transform South Sudan into a state of productivity, resilience, and hope.
The writer, Mogga Loyo, is a social researcher and peace advocate. He can be reached via email: mogtomloyo@yahoo.co.uk
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.