South Sudan is heading in the right direction although security, health and food remain the top problems facing the country.
A survey of South Sudan public opinion disclosed that 56 percent of the population agreed that South Sudan is generally heading in the right direction especially concerning independence, freedom and democracy.By regions, Bahr el Ghazal is the most optimistic with 73 percent saying that things go well in south Sudan. In Upper Nile, 52 percent hold that the country is going on the wrong direction.
Food shortage represents the top concern followed by health and unemployment for the people of South Sudan.
The survey indicates that the top priorities for the government should be access to health care, improving security and building roads.
People view very well the work of international NGOs, President Salva Kiir Mayardit and armed forces, while opposition parties, state governors and their governments receive low appreciation.
The opinion poll says the national government should build roads, hospitals and schools and protect rivers and forests; state governments should manage schools and provide security; local government should collect taxes and allocate land; and traditional chiefs should settle local disputes.
Politically, South Sudan is a democracy with major problems and 67 percent view the SPLM’s performance positively.
The majority agrees very strongly with a multi party system limiting the number of years of an elected president is in office.
The survey conducted by the International Republican Institute from September 6 to 27 registered the views of 2,225 adults from the ten states of South Sudan.