Lawmaker says there is need for ‘comprehensive’ census that includes diaspora

JUBA, MARCH 10, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan member of parliament and senior member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) Stephen Lual Ngor has called for a comprehensive population census that he said should include the diaspora.

In an interview with Sudans Post, Lual said the estimated population census data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday last week is useful and should be placed in a proper context as information that may assist the Electoral Commission.

“The comprehensive population census means the real stakeholders and is considered a guarantee and taken into account because it addresses stakeholders such as citizens, political parties, and the electoral process,” Lual said by phone on Sunday.

The outspoken lawmaker stressed that the population census is a vital element and is one of the plans necessary for conduct of elections or service delivery in the country, emphasizing its importance in informing about population growth for planning.

“It is necessary first to determine what are the suitable topics to include the total number of South Sudan’s population in the potential comprehensive population census, which will make it a general standard, and then determine the electoral constituencies according to the distributed ratios for the states,” he stated.

The National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday released results of a 2021 population estimate survey, putting President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s home state of Warrap at the helm with more than 2,639,487, a 171.47% from the 2008 population census which put Warrap at 972,928.

The latest government estimates also make the president’s home state greater in population than the three states of the Upper Nile region combined.

Based on the 2008 population census, Jonglei was the most populous state in South Sudan with at least 1,358,602.

Based on the latest government estimates, it stands at a population of 791,105 which is a 41.6% population decrease in only 13 years.

Experts, activists, and opposition groups have expressed concerns over the government population estimates, warning that they could be used to rig future elections.