The Finance Ministry presents 551 billion SSP budget to the cabinet, despite the fact that MPs have not yet been sworn in.

Minister of Finance and Planning submitted budget projections of approximately 500 billion South Sudanese pounds to the Council of Ministers for the fiscal year 2021/2022.

According to Baba Medan, Deputy Information Minister.

The idea was revealed yesterday during the ministerial meeting headed by President Salva Kiir.

Details of the 551 billion budget and goals were not made public.

But deputy information minister Medan said the ministerial council suggested another session to examine in-depth what the proposed budget will focus on.

“After the debate, the Council advised that we go into depth and address the issues since it’s a national budget and we have to focus on the concerns,” the deputy information minister told the press on Friday.

The council allowed a budget of 205 billion pounds last year.

South Sudan’s 12-month financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June each year.

By law, the budget should be presented to the national legislature no later than 15 May of each financial year; however, this has not happened for the previous two years owing to the lack of a legal legislature.

South Sudan’s two houses—the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States were intended to be reconstructed over two years ago, according to the 2018 renewed peace deal.

To date, President Salva Kiir has recreated the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, but the legislators have not been sworn in.