Will S. Sudan reshuffled cabinet bring changes?

By Santino Fardol

June 4, 2009 — No one can predict with the exact accuracy the intention and the move by President Kiir to bring into his newly appointed cabinet new faces, inactive ministers and one of the most corrupted ex-governors. Whatever decisive factors and methods he used in the past to reshuffle his entire government; this time however, the President got it wrong and placed one of his equations wrongly. On the one hand, the reshuffle of the government has not come as surprise to many. On the other hand, deterioration in all services in the country, crumbled economy, discontent of the army, widely speared of corruption, deterioration in education system; internal conflicts between various ethnic groups and most dramatically the lack of food supply in many States are believed to be behind the move.

Notwithstanding, whatever happened, the question remains unchanged. Why has this move come so late at the time when everything in the country has flagged down? In addition, will the President’s move solve most of the country’s current problems and quell the growing inter-clans violent? Furthermore, why Kiir always insist in appointing corrupt officials such as ex-Northern Bhar el-Ghazal Governor, Lt. Col. Madut Biar?

Mr. President, the latter has not only disappointed Northern Bhar el-Ghazal population and youth but also the GoSS which appointed him.

During his governorship, a great number of Aweil’s intellectuals as well as ordinary citizens filed a complaint to you (President Salva Kiir) alleging the governor of corruption, nepotism, mismanagement, and failing to deliver a minim service to the Aweil citizens. To read the compliant, visit: http://www.madingaweil.com/appeal-letter-to-goss-president.htm

President, how can such a politician who had failed to deliver minim service to his own people be given such an important portfolio in the national arena? How will he be able to carry out his duties as Minister of Telecommunication and Postal Services or serves as an SPLM servant when as a governor he misled his people and discriminated them?

President Kiir, it is time to wake up and take things seriously. Ministerial posts are not for internal. Try other southerners who are first faithful to the country and to the people they love. Country cannot be ruled with emotions but with rules and regulations. No one should be placed above the law even the President. You need to screen your ministers before appointing them.

So, does the appointment of Lt. Col. Madut Biar means that your Excellency only appoints politicians who have well succeeded in destroying education system, health system, discriminate their own people and misused public money?

Dear President, the people of Southern Sudan are facing unprecedented shortage in all services, insufficient in food supply, internal conflicts etc.

The underlying challenges are the results of your government mismanagement of the entire country’s resources, wide speared of corruption amongst the GoSS officials, embezzlement of public money, lack of law and orders, nepotism and mostly the failure of your government to meet the minim needs for the entire population.

For four years, the State of Generals has failed the people it had fought for. Millions of our children are spending most of their precious years on the street polishing shoes or committing crimes bigger than their ages. This is now happening on the streets of Juba and in many other places in the South. What has your government done regarding the country’s basic needs “infrastructures”?

In fact, Mr. President, your reluctance to deal severely with reported cases of your corrupted officials, their mismanagement and other acts beyond description have damaged your entire presidency, reputation and led to the public discontent. As these unprecedented challenges are unfolding, people need not words but actions from you.

A lot of politicians in your government whom you always pleased by appointing them will be the first to hold you accountable for the failure forced upon your administration.

Let off most of your corrupted officials. Arrest them, remove and punish them for embezzling millions of public money. To give one example of mismanagement and embezzlement, look at the newly repaired roads? Do they worth millions of dollars your government has spent (awarded contracts)?

Please, direct faithful politicians to fix the economy and mostly to immediately meet the needs of the army.

These SPLA soldiers are the only country’s hope, most honest, loyal and safeguard of the country’s security (I am talking about juniors and some seniors). Teachers must be paid and trained so that millions of our children receive proper education. Immediate needs for the population (food) must be provided.

Furthermore, the growing inter-clans must be put to an end and those responsible brought to face justice. Why innocent civilians vanish at the time of peace.

With the exception to H.E Barnaba Marial Benjamin and few ministers in your newly appointed cabinet, people are tired of appointing corrupt officials.

Your Excellency, reshuffling a government may mean one of the followings. 1) Either you are dissatisfied with the performance of the servants you entrusted and empowered to carry out the job; or 2) simply they are not in the right positions; 3) have committed misconducts such as corruption, abuse of power etc.

Just to give an example, can you tell the public for example why you’ve relieved Mr. Kuol Athian Mawien, the ex-Minister of Finance & Economic Planning? Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the ex-Minister of Regional Cooperation and Mr. Gabriel Changson Chang, the ex-Minister of Information and Broadcasting?

There must be some explanations into why they have been removed? Inform the public so that you cannot be misjudged in the future. Also, there are plethoras of pending corruption chargers before your office for years. What have you done about it? And why does it take you years? Why those accused of misconducts freed without punishment?

Mr. President, the recent paradigm shift in your government needs to urgently deal with matter such as inter-clans conflicts, food, fix the economy as well as insecurity issues. Also, for the sake of the SPLM’s future in general elections, your newly appointed cabinet needs to work around the clock to bring back the lost confident among the public regarding your government mishandling of the national issues. Moreover, services such as education, health care and building infrastructures must be provide so that country function well. The army on the other hand needs to be taking care of. Finally, put an end to corrupt officials and get out from your current folk and try others.

The author is an ex-diplomat (Minister Plenipotentiary), holder of MSc in International Management and author of Southern Sudan and Its Fight for Freedom. He is currently writing a book called “Nation in Pearl”. He has been and will be supporter of the SPLM/A. He can be reach via: [email protected]