Former S. Sudanese diplomat denies fraud allegations
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
November 24, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – A former South Sudanese diplomat who recently defected to the armed opposition group has dismissed allegations of financial fraud.
The accusations came a day after Kong announced his defection the armed opposition faction led by ex-vice president, Riek Machar.
South Sudan’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Mawien Makol, told Sudan Tribune that Kong defected in order to dodge fraud claims.
He claimed the diplomat’s defection was to escape accountability over money he embezzled.
However, in his response to the allegations, Kong insisted he had no access to embassy accounts, referring all financial inquiries to the overall head of mission.
According to Kong, the head of mission was the only person with access to the embassy’s bank account and was responsible for signing all checks or any withdrawals.
“If there is any money missing at all, let Juba investigate the ambassador,” he said.
Kong said he was not surprised by the accusations levelled at him by Juba, saying the government had previously fabricated claims against diplomats or government officials who had opted to join the rebel faction.
He claimed the accusations were being used by Juba as an excuse to cover the “ongoing deliberate harassment and intimidation targeting ethnic Nuer diplomats at South Sudan embassies across the world”.
Kong further accused the government of creating a climate of fear at its embassies in a bid to force Nuer diplomats to abandon their posts.
“The securities of [president] Salva Kiir who are from [the] Bahr el Ghazal region are targeting Nuer diplomats and citizens at South Sudan embassies across the world,” he told Sudan Tribune.
“This has happened at our embassies in New York, China, Kenya, South Africa, Eritrea – and now in Ethiopia,” he added.
(ST)
– Juba accuses defected diplomat of trying to dodge fraud claims