Machar ally dismisses gov’t population estimates as ‘dangerous scheme’ to destroy South Sudan

JUBA, APRIL 9, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A member of parliament and senior official of the main armed opposition SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has condemned and dismissed the latest government population estimates as work of enemies of peace.

In a statement seen by Sudans Post, Reath Muoch Tang who represents Upper Nile state in the peace parliament accused unnamed individuals within the government of perpetuating a “dangerous scheme” that could exacerbate ethnic tensions in the war-torn country.

“This is not true! No data was collected in order to make an estimate. It’s purely a work of the Enemies of Peace in South Sudan,” Tang said in the brief statement on his social media Facebook page.

The senior official of the main armed opposition group went on to suggest that the estimates were being used as a political tool by individuals – who he didn’t name – seeking to “continue destroying the country on tribal lines.”

Tang also criticized the government for relying on estimates made from within Juba, the country’s capital, without taking necessary measures and work for population estimates.

“You cannot sit in Juba and make an estimation inside your house,” he said.

The lawmaker’s comments were met with both support and criticism from fellow politicians. Some praised his willingness to speak out against the government, while others accused him of promoting division and undermining the legitimacy of the population estimates.

The controversy over the population estimates comes at a time of heightened tensions in South Sudan, where a civil war that began in 2013 has left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions of people.

The conflict has been fueled by ethnic rivalries and power struggles within the ruling party.

Observers say that accurate population estimates are crucial for the country’s future, as they can help inform government policies on everything from education to health care to infrastructure development.

However, critics like Tang argue that such estimates must be based on reliable data and take into account the perspectives of people from all parts of the country.

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.

Tang is not the first person to reject the latest population estimates.

Jok Madut Jok, an academic and professor of anthropology, suggested that the estimates could be the work of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) aimed at rigging constituency demarcation and future elections.

“Let’s hope this South Sudan population estimates were concocted by SPLM, as an attempt to rig future constituency demarcation and elections, not the work of Bureau of Statistics!” Jok said.

“It also means that the votes of Bahr Ghazal alone can give a win to whoever can steal these votes, for both presidency and parliament! Nonsense!” he added.

Economist and pro-democracy activist Peter Biar Ajak also expressed suspicion over the population estimates.

“These numbers of South Sudan’s population estimates released by the National Bureau of Statistics are extremely suspicious,” Ajak said.

“It’s hard to believe that the population of Warrap State alone is equal to that of three states of Greater Upper Nile combined,” he added.