objectives
If we work together and the whole nation is behind the SDP, we shall achieve peace and stability, create jobs, end poverty and build a better life for all the South Sudanese
Peacebuilding and Reconciliation among the various communities and individuals
The transition from violence to lasting peace in South Sudan must be achieved through improvements in governance, and in fair access to economic opportunities, justice, safety and other aspects of wellbeing, such as health, education and a decent environment in which to live.
Infrastructure Development
The Sunrise Democratic Party shall build the basic infrastructure necessary for the stimulation of economic growth and the improvement in the quality of life for the South Sudanese. Infrastructure such as transportation, energy, water, telecommunication and information technology, social infrastructure (Schools, hospitals, emergency services, community support, public space, libraries and cultural institutions) and government services infrastructure.
Developing the Education Sector
Generations of children in South Sudan have been and are being deprived of a fair chance in life because of; lack of schools infrastructure, conflict & insecurity, lack of qualified teachers. The SDP considers education for children as a basic human right and therefore will work hard to make sure all the children are getting education.
Youth Empowerment
The youth make up great majority of the population of South Sudan, with approximately 70% being below the age of 35 years. The SDP believes that this huge and energetic human resource potential must be harnessed towards our country’s development. The SDP shall work in close partnership with the industries to offer youth training in life skills, employability and entrepreneurship.
Women Empowerment and Gender Equality
Compared to their male counterparts, the women in South Sudan face a lot of challenges including gender based violence, domestic violence, forced marriage, early marriage and early pregnancy, illiteracy, health during pregnancy and birth, poverty and more. The Sunrise Democratic Party believes that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable society. Therefore urgent steps need to be taken so that more girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality.
Developing the agricultural sector
South Sudan has huge land resources with a great potential to produce food to meet its needs, and that of neighbouring countries. Many sources have estimated that 75% of the country’s land area is suitable for agriculture (Crops, Fisheries, Livestock, Floriculture and Horticulture) while, approximately over 50% of South Sudan land space is arable, and therefore suitable for cultivation. However, it is very unfortunate that most of the food sold in the market in South Sudan is imported and a significant proportion of food insecure people rely on imported food aid. The SDP Government shall be determined to achieve a modern, diversified, innovative and commercially-viable agricultural sector that leads to production, industrialization, and enhanced trade and markets. This will lead to improved standard of living by good nutrition, affordable food, wealth creation and decent livelihoods for all the South Sudanese.
Land Resource Management
Land continues to be a major source of conflict in South Sudan between communities, individuals, private entities, public entities, etc. This is because there is no legal clarity on land ownership between public, private, and communal land. Clear land rights and ownership policies and laws are necessary as land tenure systems have implications for food security, access to water, natural resources, pastures and settlement during droughts and flood disasters. Good land management is also important for the overall stability and security of South Sudan. Therefore, there should be a legal framework that recognizes both formal and customary land tenure systems to avoid numerous disputes over land ownership. Citizens all over South Sudan complain of instances of land sale to many buyers which then causes disputes between these many buyers. There are numerous disputes among citizens over land ownership at present. The SDP will establish robust system of issuing of title deeds and land ownership certificates with digital records keeping.
Reforming the security sector
The SDP government will introduce the reforms within the military, police, wildlife services, prisons, and intelligence by clearly defining the constitutional roles of each one of them and by reaffirming the principle of civilian rule.
Establishment of Democratic Leadership and Good Governance:
The SDP shall promote participative style of leadership, in which the people of South Sudan shall take a more participative role in the decision-making process. Everyone will be given the opportunity to participate, ideas are exchanged freely and discussion is encouraged. The SDP style of leadership will be based on the principle of equality and the freedom of ideas, aiming for effective and efficient leadership.
Fixing the Health Sector
The health system and infrastructure in the Republic of South Sudan is in a terrible shape and it has been made worst by the civil war which has severely affected the country’s capacity to develop the health sector. South Sudan is currently facing a severe shortage of all categories of trained health professionals, including physicians, laboratory technicians, nurses and midwives. We currently rely on inadequately trained or low skilled health workers. There is also an inequitable distribution of health workers both among the states, and between the urban and rural areas, where the majority of the population lives. The Sunrise Democratic Party shall address these pressing challenges facing the health sector, by developing and strengthening the health systems so that it is able to deal with all the health challenges such as HIV/AIDS and overall sexual health, mental health, TB, water borne diseases, maternal and child health, medical supply chain management.
Housing development both in the urban centres as well as in the rural areas
The SDP ideology in regard to housing is ‘Shelter for all.’ This means creation of conditions for sustainable livelihoods and urban economic development with a focus on improving the status of women and youth by making places of residence, work and skills training available. The government shall work in partnership with private sector to construct affordable houses. The SDP government will carry out legal and regulatory reforms, to make land available to citizens at reasonable prices.
Helping the persons with disabilities
Decades of conflict in South Sudan, pre and post-independence in 2011, poverty and poor access to services have increased the rate of disability in South Sudan. Based on global estimates of 15% of the world’s population living with disabilities, South Sudan is estimated to have more than 1.2 million people with disabilities (HRW, 2017; Forcier et al, 2016, p. 4). In addition, the people with disabilities in South Sudan are marginalised and excluded as a result of the numerous attitudinal, environmental, and institutional barriers they face and the lack of concerted efforts by the national government to include them. The Sunrise Democratic Party’s Government shall address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities by giving them skilled trainings and job opportunities.
Developing the mining industry
Encourage rapid development of the mining industry and ensure it matures as soon as possible to boost job creation and the economy.
Fiscal Management and fight against corruption
Combat corruption in all public and private institutions and introduce electronic means of transactions and records keeping.
Improving the working conditions of our citizens
The SDP will facilitate the formations of labour institutions and establish mechanisms for workplace related dispute resolutions as well as ensuring health and safety at the workplace, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan and in conformity with the international standards. We will introduce the minimum wage, depending on the sector, which should be reviewed periodically to keep pace with the inflation rate and the performance of the economy.
Dealing with climate change and the protection of our local environments
The SDP will encourage responsible and ethical oil and gas production for safety of the nearby communities and conservation of the environment/ecosystems.
Improvement in the international relations
We shall provide enough funding for our foreign affairs ministry so that we are able to pay our membership fees to international, continental and regional organisations on time to strengthen our diplomatic engagement. By providing enough funding, we will also be able to pay salaries on time, to the diplomatic staff to boost their morale.