PCCA claims credit for South Sudan salary increment

JUBA – The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA), a civil rights organization formed to oust President Kiir from power, has claimed credit for a number of changes that include the salary increment by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

The People’s Coalition for Civil Action was formed in August, but the decision to increase salaries of civil servants and army by 100 per cent was announced by President Kiir on July 9 during speech to mark ten years of independence.

But the salary increment was not effected until August.

In a statement on Friday, the PCCA said the country has witnessed changes in the wake of their plane to take to the streets claiming credit for those changes prominent of which is the salary increment.

“Since the first National Awakening Day, South Sudan witnessed tremendous change of political landscape. The salaries of soldiers have now been doubled, although that remains significantly low, the fact that this happened can be credited to the PCCA’s efforts,” the statement reads in part.

“We have seen other responses intended to address some of the issues highlighted by the PCCA. Recently President Salva Kiir Mayardit reached out to Mabior Garang, a direct response to the PCCA audio message,” the statement added.

Despite those positive changes, the PCCA said that there have also been negative ones.

“There have also been negative developments since then. The civic and political spaces have shrunk dramatically as the President is becoming more insecure. Active and vocal civil society leaders and organizations have been driven out of the country,” it said.

“Other critical voices have been silenced. There is increasing suspicion of South Sudanese coming from diaspora and key SPLM leaders are getting increasingly sidelined. The country is yearning for leadership, but no one is providing that leadership,” it added.

It further said that the “economy is doing terrible, and the quality of life of ordinary South Sudanese has worsened since then. Our people are unable to afford basic commodities such as food and even water.”

“The government is not doing much to alleviate people’s suffering. Efforts to stabilize currency exchange rate with loans remain profoundly superficial and sets no foundation for economic recovery.”