South Sudan’s parliament has embarked on an unprecedented four-month break without pay, with lawmakers set to resume in April 2025. This decision, while extraordinary, mirrors the economic hardship engulfing the country, where civil servants and members of the armed forces have also endured over ten months without salaries. The government attributes this crisis to the rupture of the oil pipeline running through Sudan, a lifeline for South Sudan’s oil-dependent economy.

The situation raises an important question: can a country’s political system thrive when its politicians work without pay? The decision to forgo salaries could be seen as a commendable gesture of solidarity, especially in a nation where economic instability continues to exacerbate poverty and unrest. However, it also exposes deeper systemic challenges.

South Sudan’s reliance on oil revenue—accounting for nearly 90% of its budget—has left the nation vulnerable to external shocks. The ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan has disrupted the critical oil pipeline, stalling exports and crippling government revenue. This disruption has cascaded into non-payment of salaries, affecting not just parliamentarians but also teachers, healthcare workers, and security personnel, whose livelihoods are now in jeopardy.

The decision to halt parliamentary salaries could symbolize a commitment to share the burden of the crisis, but it also underscores questions about governance and resource allocation. If the country’s leaders can work without pay for months, why has it taken so long to implement broader reforms to cushion ordinary citizens from the economic fallout?

Moreover, the absence of parliamentary activities for four months could stall critical legislation needed to address the crisis. In a country already grappling with political instability, such gaps in governance could further erode public trust and hinder recovery efforts.

South Sudan’s unpaid break presents a paradox. While it might highlight a willingness to endure shared hardship, it also magnifies the fragility of the state’s economic and political structures. The focus must now shift toward sustainable solutions, including economic diversification and resolving the pipeline crisis, to ensure that governance and public services remain resilient in the face of adversity.

Credit : Broots magazine

Photo credit/Source : Al Jazeera, Sudans Post