Why Some in SPLM sidelined me because of my Fight against corruption

By Charles Kisanga

November 12, 2006 — I’m sure many of you were familiar with the stories of EDF merger with SPLM/A from December 2003 onwards. Yes the agreements on paper were beautiful words but then when it came to the really implementation the manipulators of SPLA came in as usual to undermine and neutralise the agreement.

The EDF forces which came out ready to join the SPLA and the EDF political wing that prepared to the join SPLM were twisted here and there and manipulated in such a way that the political and military forces would eventually collapse without any proper integration except for small portion. In the end the s merger and integration became absorption and then it became not as absorption of a group but as individuals.

In the face of all these I still believed in the value of SPLM as preached by late hero DR. John Garang and not the manipulators and gangs who had seized control of SPLM for their own benefits. Hence I persisted and we eventual went to Rumbek when the Naivaisha agreement was clinched and we had to go and resume NLC and process of forming government and turning SPLM and SPLA into governments organisations. There in Rumbek I continued to struggle for the official announcement of integration of all the members of EDF as stipulated in the merge agreement, either to the political or military wings. The announcement came via the collaboration with then Deputy Chairman of SPLM now Lt. General Salva Kiir. I had great confidence in Salva Kiir because the man was very sincere and talked all the facts happening and pointing all those who were obstructing EDF integration. He also wanted the fully impetration of all EDF forces and political wing without any conditions. He struggled hard to meet our demands though he had little power himself then and I’m sure the other members did not like him that much but of course Commander Salva Kiir had the previous November/December survived the leadership challenge with Late leader Dr. John Garang and so he was now untouchable.

Today I’m only baffled to why now Lt Gen Salva Kiir abandoned his desire for equality and really consideration to the masses of South Sudan and the allow corruption and bad Governance to flourish under his leadership.

I think the answer could be found in my, until now, unpublicised letter/appeal to late DR. John Garang and copied to Salva Kiir also detailing the corruption/fund mismanagement which dodged the EDF integration. While Commander Salva Kiir and some few others were genuinely considering integrating EDF from the bottom of their hearts others saw EDF integration as a means of making money via the funds obtained to integrate the forces and the political leadership into the SPLA/SPLM. These funds were so manipulated that the little EDF integration that happened was as if there was no funds ever allocated for the integration. As somebody who was going into SPLM again for the second time with the idea of eradicating corruption I decided not to leave this misuse to go uncovered and I so I gathered all the facts and put term in a hot memo to late leader Dr. John Garang and appealing to him to take action because he was talking serious about fighting corruption and the misuse of EF integration funds was something I saw as an open corruption and misuse of public funds.

At any rate in Rumbek I had also raised the issue with all of Dr. Theophilous Ochang, CDR Martin Kenyi. CDR Obute Marmur and Salva Kiir. The man in charge of funding usage was Dr. Samson Kwaje, the Chairman of integration in Equatoria, and we had a big quarrel with him in Rumbek before he escaped to go back to Nairobi leaving us stranded in Rumbek with no accountability for the money he had received to integrate EDF. I do not need to dwell on the details of what went on there but you can make it from the letter to Dr. John Garang then which is attached there.. When I enquired later about him I was told he had escaped from my pressure and let me not ask for the funds again as we will never see it. However when the deliberations in Rumbek was finished and we were told to go away until further notice I decided to go and follow the case of EDF integration funds in Nairobi with Dr. Samson Kwaje. In Nairobi I went to the people who gave the bulk of the money, the Norwegian Peoples Aid, and then who channel the funds via the Norwegian Church Aid to avoid political implications. I even got more shock because immediately when I left them, the NPA called the Dr. Samson Kwaje and Dr. James Kok and gave them the copy of my complain. This I took to mean that some of these donors were in fact engaged in corruption and they were even getting some kick back from allowing misuse of funds.

The next day I, James Kok, Dr. Cirino, CDR Pagan Amum and Dr. Samson Kwaje met in the offices of Dr. Samson Kwaje. It was more of a bull fight then a meeting. We: James Kok and Dr. Samson Kwaje were almost boxing each other and if it was in the bush we could have fired pistols at each other as these guys were wild with anger, especially about my going to NPA offices to enquire about the funds given for EDF integration. I was shouted down that since I’m now in the movement I should just go and make my own projects and get the money and use it instead of accusing my colleagues and giving them hard time

Any way from our heated exchange of words I understood that I won’t be welcome in SPLM since I tend to be there to see to it that things especially usage of funds were done correctly. I gathered the fact was that I’m in the SPLM to play the game as I saw others doing it or else I should stay away. Well I ‘m a man who believe in my mission of serving people with integrity and I cannot really accept any incorrect procedure for serving people especially where funds are concerned. I left a few days later to come back to the UK without any resolution of our quarrels over EDF integration funds. When I returned again to Kenya in April 2005, everybody was now avoiding me and people were being assigned to duties without me being included. This I gathered was that there was no room for me to continue in any office role there because people now suspect me as somebody who had come along to fight corruption, a whistle blower and as somebody who cannot tolerate any inappropriate usage of funds.

As such I decided to come back to UK after Easter in 2005. Of course the issue continued and when selection were being made people made sure that me and my fight against corruption will never be on any list of SPLM assembly personal again. I knew these exactly because the group who went to select people in Yambio chaired by Dr. Riek Marcher were making sure that progressive leaders, like me who fight corruption seriously should never be included. Hence then I decided to resume my engineering job and become consultant telecom/software consultant engineer in UK, any way a better role then accepting to participate in government only if I accept corruption as norm of the date..

When late Dr. John Garang De Mabior died on 31 August 2005, I was hopefully that Commander Salva Kiir, my serious back in our integration fight would back my return. But however I was e surprised of the deal done for him to succeed Dr. John Garang because the very people who wanted the system to remain corrupt had backed him and they were allocated jobs immediately as reward. The very guys who had curved themselves power under late leader Dr. Garang to manipulate and allow corruption to flourish were all rewarded with jobs to continue to undermine the system and isolate Salva Kiir from his progressive ideas which he used to preach like in the SPLM manifesto. The progressive ideas of Salva Kiir had immediately vanished and I knew that SPLM will continua with a bad Governance and corruption will flourish and hence people like me who wants to serve the poor masses of South Sudan will have no room unless we come up with a healthy system serious about eradicating all corruption, nepotism, tribalism and inequality. This is where I’m today.

So for those who try to undermine my healthy debate on way forward for South Sudan I’m telling you my sidelining started here and the gang is at work still to keep me and anybody who wants to reform the system out. They would love to hear that t we are tribal or other bad terms but it is really their corruption which is tribal itself because you need your tribal brothers/sisters in order to protect your corrupt nature in office.

Hence let no one try to confuse my message by involving tribal attacks. I’m not tribal or anti-Dinka but I need equality for all the South Sudanese tribes including Dinka, Zande, Nuer, Shilluk and all other tribes. Because my fight over financial irregularities was with Equatorians mostly and it was even Equatorians and a Nuer who fought to sideline me from SPLM Government then how can it be that my message is against Dinka or tribal in nature? The war is against bad Governance and corrupt system; a government that allows unruly soldiers to humiliate and beat civilians, a government which does not follow its own constitution, a government which cannot guarantee peace to its citizens, and a Government bent on suppressing freedom of its citizens. I cannot be part of the government as they assume I would destroy their change to make more money and stack millions away quickly. I was a close friend to Salva Kiir during all the integration efforts and we discussed equality openly on daily bases and Salva Kiir could have seen it in me if I had any tribal inclination but our talks were geared towards a modern progressive society in South Sudan where all the people had freedom, equality of opportunities and non-mistreatment of others and hence that was why EDF integrations was important and it meant equality also as Equatorians would reach parity numbers in SPLM and SPLA..

Read then my complain letter addressed to late hero Dr. John Garang as attached and you can judge for yourself the events that time why hwy I want the system changed for the better of the whole people of South Sudan.

*The author is a former SPLM NLC member based in London, UK. He can be reached via e-mail [email protected]

20th February, 2005.

– CDR Dr. John Garang De Mabior
Chairman and Commander in Chief of SPLM/SPLA
– SPLM offices Rumbek or Nairobi.

SUBJECT: Review of Usage of Funds for Former EDF Integration

Your Excellency,

I would like to bring to your notice the issue of former EDF integration and the funds that were collected to effect the Integration. As leadership of the Former EDF we had heard on numerous occasions how donors had handed hefty sums of money to effect the SPLM/EDF Integration but the Chairman of the Reconciliation in Equatoria had constantly disregarded transparency in the utilization of the funds.

From the very start even the first of $40,000 directed by your Excellency and which was supposed to cater for initial accommodation costs in Nairobi, only about $19,000 ever reached the former EDF where $5,000 was given to Dr. Theophilous Ochang another $5,000 given to Cdr Martin Kenyi and another $4,000 given to Alt Cdr Kamilo Kamilo and another $5,000 to the wife of late Dr. Thomas Obwal. We were told the balance of more than $20,000 was used for some airtime, etc.

Secondly there was another $50,000 and this was supposed to help in the military integration and especially with transport of EDF leadership to the field. The secretary general and the chairman of the former EDF went to Magwi only via a Good Samaritan and by the time we again enquired of this money it was mentioned that the $50,000 was all used treat CDR Martin Kenyi. Even though his treatment was sonly $2000 and it is impossible to say somebody can be treated for $50,000 in Nairobi when it is just a minor operation.

Lastly but not least, the amount of $105,000 given by NPA to finalize EDF/SPLA integration in January 2005. During our meeting with chairman of Reconciliation Committee in Equatoria, Dr Samson Kwaje in January he insisted that this amount be spent on military integration but by then the military integration had been handled with help from CDR Obute Mamur and the only burning issue was political and administrative Integration. After lengthy discussion involving CDR James Kok it was agreed then we change the heading for usage of these funds for political and administrative integration and that the NPA be contacted to agree to the new heading. Your high Office was also to approve of this. This was done and NPA agreed to it and your Excellency gave the approval also. After that there was explanation that $30,000 was used to help with Rumbek meeting of November 2004 and as such about $75,000 was the balance. Out of these then $10,000 was given to Cdr Obute Marmur to settle loans on fuel he used for movement to integrate former EDF forces. The Secretary General of former EDF was given $2,000 to settle present hotel bills and CDR Martin Kenyi was given $2,000 for the same purpose while Alt Cdr Kamilo Tafeng received the amount of $1,500 to settle his hotel bills as he also came for the supposed integration meeting in Nairobi. The balance of more then $50,000 was supposed to be used for our meeting rooms hire, accommodation, stationary and transport costs. Also we could have used the funds to transport here former EDF officials still outside and in Khartoum. No penny was released for these items. When were about to start our integration meeting in Nairobi the Chairman of Reconciliation in Equatoria now insisted that our meeting be conducted in Rumbek and the remaining funds for integration will be used there. But going to Rumbek no meeting for integration took place and following an argument between the Secretary General of former EDF and himself he said he left the money in Nairobi and he was going to return it to NPA if we insisted on our share of this funds and insisted of refund of the loans of air-tickets and accommodation costs acquired because no funds was released previously to us. As such most officials of former EDF are still stranded abroad. The Secretary General of former EDF had requested stationary such as laptop, printer, rims of paper and satellite phone from these funds to help in our integration work but all were denied by the chairman of reconciliation committee in Equatoria who used the funds as his personnel money and had absolute say on how he used it . As a result the paper work like even this letter had to be paid for from the pocket of the Secretary General of former EDF.

You Excellency as The Chairman and Commander in Chief of SPLM/SPLA had constantly talked that we need to provide transparency as bases of good governance and we feel that the way the funds for EDF integration had been used is unjust and does not amount to transparency. We appeal to your Excellency to ask the handlers of these funds to give accountability and also refund all pending expenses and loans incurred by officials of former EDF trying to pursue the duty of integration with SPLM/A. We have outstanding loans on accommodation, transport and communication costs which the leadership of former EDF had incurred while there were funds there and the people handling it will not make it available for the purpose for which it was allocated in the fist place. We trust your wisdom in this serious matter and we hope transparency here serves as bases for combating corruption which is crippling our hard worn freedom and justice in New Sudan.

SPLM Oyee ….. SPL Oyee….

Long Live the Wise Leadership of SPLM

Yours sincerely

Hon. Eng. Charles Barnaba Kisanga

SPLM –NLC
And Former Secretary General of Former EDF.

Nairobi Mob: 0735 897 053

CC
1.CDR Salva Kiir Mayardit – First Vice Chairman SPLM/A

2. Dr. Theophilous Ochang Lotti– Member, SPLM Leadership Council

3. Cdr James Kok – SPLM Peace Desk and Financial Officer

4. Dr. Samson Kwaje – Chairman Reconciliation in Equatoria

5. Cdr Martin Kenyi – Overall Commander Former EDF

6. Southern Sudan Desk – NPA and NCA