JUBA – The IMF has loaned $334 million (284 million euros) to South Sudan, the country’s central bank governor said Tuesday, as its ailing economy teeters from a currency crisis and soaring inflation.

It is the third time in a year the Washington DC-based lender has extended financial aid to the troubled country, which ran out of foreign exchange reserves last year when oil prices fell sharply.

The price slump, brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, deprived the fragile government in Juba of much-needed revenue and sent its currency into freefall.

Earlier this year, one US dollar was fetching 700 South Sudanese Pounds on the black market – the weakest exchange rate since independence a decade ago.

Central Bank Governor Dier Tong Ngor said the IMF loan would “substantially boost” foreign reserves and allow room to try and recover in the midst of the pandemic.

“The increase in reserves will help build external resilience and sustain the current reforms in the foreign exchange market,” Ngor said in a statement seen by AFP.

South Sudan is emerging from five years of civil bloodshed that left 380,000 dead and shattered its economy, which is almost entirely dependent on oil.

When it split from Sudan to the north in 2011 following a decades-long war of secession, it took over three-quarters of the oil reserves.

But years of civil conflict after independence, including for control of key oil fields, deprived the country of vital income and the chance to diversify its economy.

The coronavirus pandemic drove oil prices sharply downward, gutting state coffers for a fragile new unity government that took office in early 2020 at the end of a tortured peace process.

The government has not been able to pay civil servants on time, while the price of basic goods remains stubbornly high.

In April, the IMF approved $174 million in emergency support to South Sudan. The previous November, it extended a $52 million loan.

Devastating flooding has deepened the economic pain and worsened a humanitarian crisis in the world’s newest country, which is enduring its worst hunger levels since independence a decade ago.

Corruption and mismanagement are also often blamed for South Sudan’s economic troubles. - Sudans Post

By JULIUS MBALUTO

As the world prepares for October 10^th, 2021 the main World Mental Health Day under the auspices of World Health Organization to be commemorated, here in the UK, the focus, the talks on the subject have started.

The key objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support. The talks happen for stakeholders to address the realities of the problem and find out what needs to be done.

Stakeholders, professionals, health workers and leaders gathered over the weekend at Holiday Inn, Watford in Hertfordshire, UK attending Mental Health Forum hosted by Eva Mbiru and Kenyan Women in Watford. The event was graced by leaders from the area with the area MP Dean Russell attending.

The panel and attendees addressed various issues pertaining to mental illness. Young people attending shared different experiences and how schools have no clear coherent policies on how to help students who might be at their early levels experiencing mental illness. Experts shared that stigma contributed and compounded the problem.

MP Dean Russell and Julius Mbaluto 

Leaders attending also learned from those dealing with mental illness on the ground how important it was to increase and sustain funding. Those attending also heard how Covid-19 pandemic has increased the numbers of people with mental illness.

They also learned how they can get help. As well, all were encouraged to care about their neighbours, for example, speaking to them and finding out if they were fine.

According to Mental Health England, 1 in 4 people have mental health issues, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a mental health issue each week. There are around 20 million people in the UK who will experience it. Stigma and keeping the issue under wraps doesn’t help. The talks during Mental Health Forum proved that sharing and talking about the issue remains the best way forward.

Faith Mathangani & Lilian Wangari both authors 

Eva Mbiru Speaking

Entertainers who kept attendees on their toes

Photo AP / Justin Lynch