Former Deputy Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly and presidential aspirant Kornelio Kon Ngu has criticised the ongoing inter-party dialogue, questioning its cost and warning that it could delay South Sudan’s December 22 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Juba, Kon argued that the money spent on the dialogue should instead be used to pay outstanding salaries owed to civil servants and former government officials.
“We therefore want the people to know that whatever has been spent on this political dialogue should have gone towards paying salaries,” Kon said. “This dialogue has no meaningful purpose, yet tens of millions are being spent on it.”
Kon said he had gone 19 months without receiving his salary while serving as a member of parliament, adding that the money spent on the dialogue could have made a difference to unpaid public servants.
“I am speaking as a former Deputy Speaker of Parliament. I have gone 19 months without receiving my monthly salary, and I was eventually removed from office,” he said.
He also questioned expenditure on the dialogue’s logistical arrangements, including chairs, electricity, food and stationery, but did not provide figures to substantiate the total cost.
Kon further alleged that the dialogue was deliberately delaying the electoral process, saying, “Therefore, this shows that there is deliberate stalling and that there are people working against the interests of this country.”
He argued that holding elections was important for progress in the economy, security, education and food security, reiterating his position that the December 22 polls should proceed as scheduled.
His remarks come as political parties continue discussions under the inter-party dialogue, which is intended to produce recommendations on key political and electoral issues ahead of the scheduled elections.
Last week, the dialogue committee’s rapporteur said the committee was working to finalise a consolidated document outlining the dialogue’s resolutions by Monday.
The dialogue’s recommendations are expected to inform discussions on South Sudan’s political and electoral processes as the country prepares for the December 22 elections.
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