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Hundreds of South Sudanese politicians have been evicted from hotels where they stayed during the country’s peace process for more than $ 50 million in unpaid bills, a hotel association said Thursday.
Some 300 politicians from different opposition groups, the ruling party and the military have been staying in more than 18 hotels in Juba for several years.
South Sudan plunged into war in 2013, and after several failed peace accords, signed a new accord in September 2018 that led to the formation of a unity government in February last year, which remains fragile.
Many of those involved in the talks, members of the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC), were outside the country, while others said they had to be accommodated in hotels for security reasons.
Last month, the hotel industry issued two warnings to the government about the arrears, to no avail.
“So we decided to come to a final conclusion to drive out all NPTC clients, including politicians, generals, who came for the implementation of peace,” said Mel Garang, a representative of the South Sudan Hotel. and Catering Association.
He said some of the delegates had been in the hotels for three to four years.
South Sudan. By (AFP) “Last time we were asking for over $ 10 million, but now we have realized that some of the hotels were not with us and they are asking for up to $ 50 million (41 million euros),” said Garang.
Hotel owners, already facing the depreciation of the South Sudanese pound, say they can no longer afford to pay their suppliers due to growing debt.
Tut Kew Gatluak, chairman of the NPTC and security adviser to President Salva Kiir, said: “We have paid part of it and not yet”.
One of the delegates, kicked out of the hotel who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP the situation was embarrassing.
“We feel so bad that we were kicked out at the end and no one is taking care of us from now on … and in fact the electricity has been cut in our rooms and we have no time to do our business and even one we pack our stuff, where do we go? “
Despite the formation of the unity government, several key elements of the peace agreement, such as the formation of a unified national army, have not yet been implemented.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with 60% of the population facing severe hunger this year, according to UN agencies, as violence has exploded between rival communities, killing hundreds.
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