Opinion | Leveraging on the South Sudanese diaspora

By Tut Gatwech Garang

OPINION FEBRUARY 21^st 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudanese diaspora refers to the community of South Sudanese people living outside their home country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in South Sudan estimates that there are approximately 1 million South Sudan in the diaspora. Most are found in Europe, USA, Canada, and Australia.

With the increasing number of South Sudanese living abroad, the diaspora community has become an important resource of development back home. Leveraging on the diaspora can have multi-faceted benefits to South Sudan ranging from economic, knowledge and skill transfer, humanitarian assistance, diplomacy and advocacy, among others.

South Sudanese diaspora has significant financial and intellectual capital that the government can tap into and promote economic development back home. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), remittances made 6.7% of the GDP in 2019.

Remittances can not only improve the livelihoods of people at home and spur the economy but also contribute to the much-needed government revenue. According to an IOM, the cost of remitting fund to South Sudan are among the highest in the world. Moreover, accurate data on remittances flow into the country is missing presenting a gap. The government can look lowering the remitting costs and developing a data collection system of its remittance flows to improve efficiency.

Financial capital can also be invested in infrastructure development and small and medium-sized enterprises that will create jobs and spur the economy. However, the possibility of maximizing the productive potential of migrant remittances and turning them into local investments in South Sudan is limited according to a study conducted by IOM on remittances and diaspora engagement in South Sudan (2020). The diaspora can be encouraged to invest back home through various mechanisms including providing incentives such as tax breaks, and investment guarantees among others.

Living and working abroad, especially in industrialized countries exposes one to a different environment and informs one to acquire valuable skills and knowledge. Such skills and knowledge can be vital for the development of South Sudan. The same applies to technology transfer. The government should aim to engage the diaspora to share their expertise through different initiatives including mentorship programs, training, and providing technical assistance.

The diaspora is also the linkage between South Sudan and the international community. As such, the diaspora can play a crucial role in promoting South Sudan’s interests abroad while also advancing the country’s foreign objectives. IOM data shows that the linkage between the diaspora and the South Sudanese government is still weak. President Kiir’s administration can aim at creating linkages through a network of advocates and ambassadors to build relationships with key stakeholders in other countries.

The South Sudanese diaspora with its vast network and resources can also play an important role during national emergencies and times of crisis including conflict and natural disasters. The diaspora can be mobilized to provide monetary assistance, food, medical aid and shelter during times of crisis.

President Kiir’s administration should aim at creating an enabling and friendly environment that encourages diaspora engagement. A good starting point to ensure continued diaspora engagement is creating a permanent diaspora department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. For instance, neighbouring countries such as Kenya that have an active diaspora have a diaspora department in the Ministry of Affairs that engages their diaspora. As a result of these efforts, remittances are the highest foreign exchange earner in Kenya today. South Sudan can learn from such an experience while also looking at creating events abroad to foster diaspora engagement.

In conclusion, the South Sudanese diaspora has the potential of making a significant contribution to the development of their home country. It is my view that President Kiir’s administration should aim at fostering a good relationship with the diaspora which can be achieved by opening channels of communication and encouraging collaboration.

The diaspora could therefore be viewed as a resource by the current administration that can support the development of South Sudan in a wide array of areas in addition to acting as goodwill ambassadors of the country abroad.

The author is a concerned South Sudanese and can be reached via: tut_gatwech@yahoo.com.

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