South Sudan’s cabinet unveiled a proposed 2025/26 national budget that earmarks a significant portion of public funds for military, intelligence and other security services, prompting debate over fiscal priorities in a nation facing acute socio-economic and humanitarian challenges.
The draft budget disclosed on Thursday, allocates hundreds of billions of South Sudanese pounds to defence and security agencies, dwarfing funding for other sectors such as health and education, even as millions of citizens depend on humanitarian aid and basic public services.
Lawmakers and civil society analysts have raised concerns that the heavy emphasis on security spending comes at a time when public investment is urgently needed to address widespread poverty, ongoing recovery from conflict and structural development needs.
The budget, which also prioritises salaries and operational costs for defence and intelligence bodies, will now be debated and potentially amended by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.