Peace building in South Sudan becomes source of making money
By Isaac Vuni
March 1, 2007 (TORIT) — Peace building and reconciliation in Southern Sudan conferences have become sources of making money by individuals organizations, says chairman of southern Sudan peace commission,. James Kok.
Kok went on saying, “Peace building in southern Sudan has been taken as source of income to different organizations that have no clear mechanism that let SSPC into conflict with many NGOs including Partner Agencies Combined Together (PACT)”. Adding that peace and reconciliation conference are being made like night clubs.
He said different organizations have their own approach without coordinating with his office, Southern Sudan Peace Commission (SSPC).
Many NGOs purporting to be peace makers and have engaged people from counties for peace and reconciliation but at the end of their five days conference, organizers rush back to either Nairobi or some where else; leaving conference recommendations and resolutions hanging even without informing the SSPC office on what the out come of there conference was like.
“We want to be transparent and accountable in our approach to peace building”, Therefore, I would not allow any NGOs to directly deal with any county commissioners, declared chairman of SSPC.
Otherwise, Kok says some NGOs only comes with two bags of sugar, three roles of plastic sheets and three plastic chairs then claim to be making peace building, while reserving for themselves huge amount of money given to them by their main donors for a particular conference.
He announced that SSPC is in partnership with all the civil societies including church organizations that ought to sign a memorandum of understanding to guide their operation in various counties.
He said USAID also had signed MOU with them on behalf of Pact whose funding comes from USAID, American tax payers. The money are channeled to the people of southern Sudan and at the end its not pact to write letter of appreciation to the American tax payers but SSPC on how the money was spend.
In the same gathering, Gordon Soro, Chairman Local Government Board of southern Sudan told the conferees of Greater Equatoria states that there is fund for Basic Recovery services amounting to US dollars 30 million but it’s channeled through NGOs who are allowed the donors to bid for it.
He further disclosed that the bid was a competitive with both Goss and local governments fully represented during the bids. That the fund is specifically for providing basic services such as primary education, primary health care, water and sanitation
Soro further disclosed that AMREF in collaboration with Accomplished organization, local NGO, have applied for the fund for providing education, health and water services in Terekeka County and were getting US $400,000 to 800,000 as from last year. Adding that report rendered indicated that the governors and commissioners are involved but that money was problem.
Soro announced that there is fund for training local government officials in planning, establishment officers and financial management due to start in March this year and JRS organization has done mapping of county profile of each county.
The Rapid Recovery Funds programme is of UNDP and there are five counties benefiting from this programme; Aweil, Renk, Gogrial, Juba and Torit counties. Juba County has US$ 4.5 million for providing services provision while Torit county has Euro 4.5 million (5.5 million dollars)
Also the local government recovery programme last year received money for either re-construction or construction of offices for counties. The immediate beneficiaries were Ikwotos county of Eastern Equatoria State, Terekeka county of Central Equatoria State and Nagero County of Western Equatoria State whose money were given to Catholic Relief Service (CRS) at the tune of US$ 100,000 per a county but last year it was US$ 50,000. The CRS Peace Building Manager, Mrs. Anisia Aceng has confirmed that CRS has received funds from UNDP for local government recovery programme but did not disclose how much was received.
But Commissioner of Terekeka County, Brig. Wani Nyambur Boughta has denied receiving any basic recovery fund. “This Governors-Commissioners forum has given me very good information and I will immediately summon AMREF, Accomplish and Oxfam organizations on how they sneak into my County without my knowledge or that of SRRC”, remarks Boughta.
Meanwhile the County commissioner of Torit, Col. Masimino Alam said he has never received any fund for basic recovery.
“I have never received any funds for basic recovery. In fact, I would like to know who are getting it and from which organizations”
However, Fr. Moris Loguti, Chairperson of Peace and Reconciliation Commission of Diocese of Torit revealed that they have received fund for basic recovery from Caritas international organization through Sudan Catholic Bishop conference secretariat in Nairobi for the church including people in Eastern Equatoria state.
Nevertheless, the commissioner of Nagero, Lino Ufu confirmed that CRS has disclosed to him amount of US$ 50,000 they got for reconstruction of his county due to start this month. Meanwhile Commissioner of Ikwotos, Pasquale Angasi denied having received any money from local government recovery funds. “Those are mere public relation from those concerns who are eating in our name”, he remarks. Most NGOs operating at county levels in southern Sudan are providing substandard services.
It is to be recalled that the Rapid Recovery Funs programme is funded by European Union while Basic Service Funds is funded by DIFO organization and the Local government Recovery funds has many donors.
(ST)