Salva Kiir discusses establishment of South Sudan audit body

April 23, 2007 (JUBA) — In their regular monthly meeting on April 21, Southern Sudan government President Salva Kiir and Southern Sudan Auditor general, Barnabas Majok Barnabas, tackled progress with establishment of the Southern Sudan Audit Chamber.

Salva Kiir discussed with Barnabas the process of reviewing all contracts which had been entered into by the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). This task was begun on the 12th February, and had been expected to be complete by May 12. Due to difficulties encountered during the process, however, the end date has been extended to May 31, 2007.

Also they discussed the need for additional qualified staff in the Chamber. President Kiir directed that the Secretariat should work hard to issue swiftly the decree appointing a second Deputy to the Auditor General, a measure which had been agreed on16 February 2007.

The Auditor reported that the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Jimmy Longwe and himself would, at the invitation of the World Bank, attend a one-week workshop on Accountability to be held in Tanzania at the end of April 2007. This will assist them in improving public accountability in Southern Sudan.

The provision of land for the construction of the Chamber’s offices has now been agreed, reported the Auditor, and HE the President had graciously agreed to lay the building’s foundation stone in May.

(ST)