Sweden to slash development aid to South Sudan due to Russian invasion of Ukraine – envoy

JUBA, JANUARY 30^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Sweden’s government Monday announced a plan to reduce this year’s development cooperation funds to South Sudan due to impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Tomas Brundin, Head of Embassy Sweden’s Office in South Sudan said that Sweden will this year reduce the aid from SEK 300 million to 240 million SEK.

“For this year, it will be reduced from what is in average of year 300 million SEK to 240 million SEK and while doing that we will also want to make our efforts more efficient,” Brundin told reporters during the signing ceremony of newly established Trust Fund for South Sudan.

Brundin said Ukraine will be the biggest recipient of its development cooperation fund.

“Sweden has made Ukraine the biggest recipient of its development cooperation and it will, of course, have some effect on other capabilities in other parts of the world including South Sudan,” said Brundin.

He said Sweden regret to reduce its fund to South Sudan given the soaring of commodity prices and dire humanitarian situation.

“This means that they will slight reduction in long-term development cooperation this year in South Sudan but we do also see an increase in prices and increase humanitarian needs.”

He urged the government to scale up support to deliver services to its citizens.

“We always used humanitarian imperative when it comes to humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian assistance depends on different countries and then you can direct,” he said.

“And also have a dialogue that we have more responsibility from the government of South Sudan for service delivery for its people.”