The Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR) applauds the Government of South Sudan for hosting the Africa Oil and Power International Conference in Juba.
While this is a positive step moving forward, the coalition reminds the government that for business to strive and foreign investment increase, it must provide the enabling environment including strengthening the rule of law to safeguard capital investment, security, stability, and most importantly deliver peace.
The coalition statement adds that in recent years, oil exploration has led to untold suffering and displacement of thousands of South Sudanese from their ancestral lands without compensation.
It also says there has been no appreciable provision of basic services like education, roads, electricity, water and health infrastructure as required by national laws and international best practices for social corporate responsibility by investors.
The civil society coalition stresses concern by the lack of transparency, accountability and adherence to environmental health and social rights standards in the oil sector.
It is therefore, calling on the Government and partners to implement relevant policy frameworks that regulate the exploration, development and utilization of proceeds from the natural resources sector.
They also urge the government make peace a reality and ensure there is transparency in the oil sector in the whole country.
The Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR) is a formation of more than 20 civil society organizations from across South Sudan