Parliamentary Centre in Sudan

A first in Sudan: National, Southern Sudan MPs focus on financial crisis together

Sudanese legislators from both the National Assembly and Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) recently put aside partisan differences to assess the impact that the global financial crisis is having on the people they represent.

Their initiative was significant not only for its result – a strong set of recommendations – but also for its example: the first time a National Assembly committee delegation has held a joint workshop with opposite numbers at the SSLA.

It won’t be the last time for such collaboration if participants have it their way. As one wrote afterwards with a chance nod to the workshop’s Canadian supporters, “(More joint activities) will sweep the ice and will make us know the progress on the ground.”

Every curler knows it takes hard sweeping to melt the ice momentarily; every MP knows it can be even harder to break the ice with political opponents. Drawing on a tradition of hospitality common to all of Sudan, these Sudanese MPs say that progress and peace here are possible.

They’re aware, however, of the complex threat that is posed to progress by ongoing financial instability. That’s why they came together in Juba, July 16th -18th.

To improve understanding of how the crisis is affecting the economy at various levels and in various sectors, they commissioned research, called Ministers and government officials to appear and discussed measures for mitigating revenue shortfalls and reducing vulnerability to external shocks.

As expected, they took their duties seriously. As the head of the Parliamentary Centre in Africa, Rasheed Draman, put it in remarks read at the outset, “the correlation between lower-than-anticipated revenues and less food on the table for families is not direct… At some point, that line of responsibility runs across the floor of a legislative chamber or two…”

Food security was emphasized in participants’ recommendations.

The Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, in collaboration with the Development, Economy & Finance Committee of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, was primarily responsible for initiating this activity.

Both committees are among those supported by the Parliamentary Centre’s CIDA-funded project, Peace-building and Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions in Sudan.