Wednesday, 08 August 2012

Written by Peter Moi

Juba - The Minister of Finance, Kosti Manibe, has said $7.4 million belonging to the Government of South Sudan is kept at BNP Paribas Bank in Geneva, Switzerland.

The minister was responding to questions raised by members of the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament today on the 2007 and 2008 audit reports.

The reports, which were released recently by the Auditor General, Steven Wondu, showed that hundreds of millions of dollars were unaccounted for in those two years.

The committee members wanted the Minister of Finance to shed more light on bank account transfers involving BNP Paribas Bank

 “Where is the US$7.4 million? Who is responsible for it? How can it be recovered?” the MPs asked the minister in a written questionnaire.

Manibe replied that the amount in question was part of about $166 million transferred by the Central Bank of Sudan on instructions of the then Governor of the Bank of Southern Sudan.

“The balance is still with BNP Paribas Bank in Geneva until cleared. Efforts are being made to pressure the Central Bank of South Sudan to recover this money,” he said.

The Auditor General’s report to Parliament last month said almost $166 million was transferred to two bank accounts held at BNP Paribas Bank.

Of this amount US$ 157 million was deposited back to the Bank of Sudan in Khartoum in August 2006, leaving a balance of US$ 7.4 million.

The Auditor General said the accounts in Geneva were not in the name of the Government of Southern Sudan but he would not say in which names they were.

“Other details regarding these accounts and transactions are still outstanding,” he said.

Asked why there was overspending by some Government departments in 2007 and 2008, the minister said the systems were weak.

He added that some departments did not make requests, giving room for others to request more money. “We are working to make sure requests and planning processes are improved,” he said.

Manibe also confirmed that Nile Commercial Bank owes the Government $3 million that was given to the bank as a loan.

The bank authorities have denied owing the Government any money, but the minister said there are records in his ministry to prove it.

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Written by John Actually

BOR- A light aircraft belonging to World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday crashed in Jonglei as it was returning from Buma payam in Pibor county bordering Ethiopia where it had taken humanitarian staff for a mission.

The director of civil aviation in Bor, Kuot John Akech, said the plane crashed at Ajargeer, a semi-desert area 28 miles away from Bor.

He said the Caribbean-made plane was carrying five passengers and crew members when it crashed at 3:22 PM local time.

“We sent helicopter to bring passengers and all the seven people who were on board were evacuated safely to Bor and finally to Juba,” Akech said.

He explained that since the area was open, it was possible for the pilots to maneuver and crash land.

“They are lucky people because that area is open, there are no trees in that area,” Akech added.

He said they are still investigating the real cause of the crash.

Another WFP plane to crashed in Jonglei last year.

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Written by Emmanuel Data and Kenneth Oluka

JUBA - President Salva Kiir has announced plans to down size his government to save money for development.

Addressing thousands of jubilant citizens during celebrations to mark the First Anniversary of South Sudan Independence at the Dr John Garang Mausoleum, Kiir said in the time of austerity measures, a large government is untenable.

 “In these times of austerity we cannot afford it, and therefore we will downsize the government so that money is there for development,” he said to a thunderous applause from the people.

The President said that it was clear that the size of his government today is large compared to other countries.

South Sudan has about 60 ministers. It also has three hundred members in its bicameral National Legislature which consists of the National Legislative Assembly (332 seats) and the Council of States (50 seats).

Out of the 332 members of the National Legislative Assembly, 170 members were elected in 2010, 96 are former members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Sudan and 66 are appointed.

The Council of States on the other hand has 20 former members of the Council of States of the Republic of Sudan plus an additional 30 appointed representatives.

There are several other constitutional position holders notably Presidential advisors, members of independent commissions and chambers, members of State Legislative Assemblies and State ministers and advisors all earning hefty salaries and benefits from public coffers.

“If you want money (for development) the government must be small,” the President said.

Kiir also spoke against the idea of creating more counties, saying there is no money and they cannot solve the problems the country is facing now. There have been several requests for creation of new counties, lately.

“You want new counties when you know there is no money,” he said.

He explained that it would not be a wise decision to create more counties when even some of the existing 79 are still operating under miserable conditions.

The President said that for a county to operate effectively there must be residences for the officials, money to pay salaries, office buildings, cars, a hospital and at least one secondary school among other requirement.

“I am not against it; we want to take government to the people but with resources,” he advised.

He called on the citizens to be patient because building a nation takes time, especially at this time when government is running on austerity budget.

“One year we cannot build South Sudan in one year,” he said.

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Written by David Majur

JUBA - President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has advised the leaders of South Sudan to make sure that any deal they enter into in the current crisis with Khartoum should be based on justice.

“For these problems you are having now you should stand firm and make sure that justice is done,” he advised.

Museveni was speaking as Chief Guest at the celebrations to mark the first anniversary of South Sudan independence.

“If you make a deal which is not based on justice, that deal will create more problems in the future,” he added.

Museveni argued that it was wrong for people to say that it was not important to find out the wrong and right party in a conflict like that between Juba and Khartoum.

“My question is who is right and who is wrong. But some people don’t want to hear about that. They say it doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong but we should just make a deal,” Museveni observed.

He also advised his hosts to strengthen themselves saying “the world likes strong people, it doesn’t like weak people.”

Museveni called on the people of South Sudan to be firm and not to be like the Biblical children of Israel who were felt like back-tracking to Egypt when faced with challenges in the desert.

“When the children of Israel came out of slavery in Egypt and they got problems in the desert, they said, “We wish we were back in Egypt because in Egypt we were at least eating pumpkin,” Museveni counseled.

 Giving the example of the struggle for independence by South Sudan that took a very long time, Museveni blamed the rest of the world for not listening to the voices of the black people.

“In the world, the voice of the black people is not heard very much; otherwise the suffering of the black people of South Sudan should never have gone so long because the issues were very clear,” he stated.

He added that the issues of South Sudan were clear and easy to understand.

“These are black people, and they want to enjoy their culture which was given to them by God not by anybody,” Museveni told the cheering crowd at Dr. Garang Mausoleum in Juba.

Museveni however blamed the Black people for being responsible for some of their woes.

“It is partly a default of black people themselves because they are easy to divide, they are easy to confuse, and they like to be slaves. So it is partly our fault,” he said.

Museveni paid tribute to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) for leading the fight for independence.

“This situation took so many years but the SPLM mobilized you and in the end you got your victory and I congratulate you,” he said.

Some of the dignitaries at the ceremony were the Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemerian Desalegn, Chairperson of AU Commission Jean Ping, the Minister of State for Public Service of Kenya Dalmas Ayango and the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in South Sudan, Hilde Johnson.