Western Equatoria approves SSP 49.29 billion for 2025/26 fiscal budget

YAMBIO – The Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly has passed a state budget of 49.29 billion South Sudanese Pounds for the 2025/2026 financial year, introducing new funding lines for education, health, security and humanitarian emergencies.

The budget was approved during a sitting held on Tuesday (9 December 2025) at the State House in Yambio after months of scrutiny. Lawmakers described the financial plan as crucial to stabilising government institutions and improving essential public services.

Among the key allocations are four new funds intended to respond to critical gaps across the state: Teachers Support Fund to tackle teacher shortages and improve education quality, Doctors Support Fund to retain specialist doctors in hospitals in Yambio, Lui, Nzara, Maridi, Tambura and Mvolo, State Security Support Fund to address rising insecurity, WES Humanitarian Intervention Consortium Fund to support communities affected by crises in Mundri East, Tambura and Nagero

The humanitarian fund alone includes SSP 12 billion, which the state says it will negotiate with the National Ministry of Finance and Planning to boost humanitarian interventions in affected counties.

The Assembly also approved 24,666 government positions, reflecting the integration of personnel from the former states of Amadi, Maridi and Tambura. It further recommended that no ministerial office should have more than 16 staff members, a measure intended to promote efficiency and curb duplication.

Speaker of the Assembly, Ann Tuna Richard, hailed the passage of the budget as a milestone and said it responds directly to the needs of citizens.

“Today we have delivered a financial plan that focuses on education, health, security and humanitarian needs.”

She urged ministries and agencies to implement the allocations transparently, saying accountability must guide every expenditure.

Deputy Governor Justin Joseph Marona, who attended the sitting, described the budget as “people-centred” and said its implementation will prioritise improved services across Western Equatoria. He added that the humanitarian fund will strengthen the state’s ability to respond swiftly to emergencies.