South Sudan reshuffle hailed as step forward
July 11, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The recent reshuffle of the government of south Sudan should improve its ability to confront the enormous task of rebuilding the oil region after decades of civil war, observers say.
Since taking office, Kiir has sacked senior ministers, ordered wide-ranging corruption investigations, and even placed senior officials under house arrest because of graft accusations.
Many were surprised by his latest round of changes which saw prominent figures from the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), which dominates the south Sudan government, removed from cabinet posts.
Vice President Riek Machar was stripped of his additional housing and lands portfolio and Rebecca Garang, widow of former SPLA leader John Garang, was moved from the Roads and Transport Ministry to a post as presidential advisor on gender and human rights.
There have been no suggestions of corruption regarding Machar and Garang but some said other ministers, like former Finance Minister Arthur Akuein Chol, were removed because of their alleged involvement in graft.
“The effect of these changes will probably be that his (Kiir’s) own position will be strengthened and it will bring new talent into the administration,” said Sudan expert John Ashworth.
“Certainly many people will be encouraged at Salva’s attempts to root out corruption,” he added.
Some companies, such as Gulf real estate development companies, have been wary of investing in the south citing a lack of security and efficient government structures.
Larger oil companies were also discouraged from investing because of disputed contracts the SPLA had signed with oil exploration companies. The SPLA had sold Britain’s White Nile
Last week the Sudanese government resolved the dispute in favour of Total, which may also encourage more investment in the south.
LACKS EFFICIENCY
The January 2005 deal to end Africa’s longest war created a coalition government in Khartoum, wealth-sharing of Sudan’s oil found mostly in the south, and gave the south a vote on independence in a referendum by 2011.
But some southerners say the newly created administration has been slow to offer services, especially in far-flung rural areas. Deep in a north-south civil war for all but 11 years since independence in 1956, the south has little infrastructure.
“The government is stable and together but lacks efficiency and performance,” said Pascal Bandini Uru, a member of Sudan’s parliament.
Livio Bahara, a member of the southern parliament from west Bahr al-Ghazal region, said if anything the cabinet changes should have been more “dramatic”.
“If someone has not performed well then why take him to another position where they might not perform well?” he said.
Analysts placed part of the blame for a lack of development in south Sudan on irregular flows of oil revenues from the northern government.
South Sudan’s annual budget of around $1.2 billion comes almost entirely from oil, and oil represents more than half the central government’s budget.
A delay in the opening of a new oil pipeline left a budget shortfall last year for both north and south Sudan.
“The flow of money from the north has been below expectations,” Uru said.
Ashworth said the north was putting up obstacles to the implementation of the deal, but added the south was coping well.
“In many respects they’re doing OK, given the enormity of the task,” he said.
“As well as setting up both a government and a political machine virtually from scratch, they’re still being forced to fight the war, by political rather than military means.”
(Reuters)
Manyok Mabiei
The changing of Ministers in GOSS is unfair able?
The changing of Ministers in GOSS is unfair able?
I don’t think is a better idea from Government of South-Sudan of changing of Mrs. Nyandeng de Mabior in the position as not a fair enough to hear by public of South-Sudan. I myself I don’t like to support that ideology of changing of Ministers in GoSS at this time. If, it is matter of skill then Minister Nyandeng de Mabior have right to look for people to support her in that position to do better obligation. In that position she pointed to represent the GoSS and her state, but not local forces as we have some Ministers occupies many seats in the Cabinet, are unaccountable to some forces.
In accordingly, the Government of South-Sudan we have ten States and each state have a right to selected a two Ministers out of two people like President and Vice President. As Mrs. Nyandeng de Mabior represent people of Great Bor and Michaeal Lueth too. If, Kiir thinking to remove Nyandeng de Mabior in the position and work in other position like adviser in his office like her wife do? Then people of Bor-Central, Bor-North, South-Bor, Akobo, Murles, and Anyuak Community, they will need to replace another person in that position, because of region represent? As even, I was thought these great populations in that region in South-Sudan should have four seats, instead of two seats as Kiir did in his false-hood cabinet. When, I check all the Ministers working in GOSS, as unfairly balanced and seemingly the seats all are occupied by one side from one region and that is unfair able to hear by viewers like me in exile or within country. It is unbelievable to hear and, if the conclusion is not end off well of changing Minister then manhood grow doubt!
Therefore, if Mrs. Nyandeng de Mabior is not capable to do a job, then she should stand by and call the GoSS, I need help? But that ideology of removing her in the position and replacing in the other position like assistance is not correctable. Before, we know she have a power of budget to do the work and, if she go in that position she will be have no power again like rest of the Ministers do? I myself, I reject that ideology of changing of Ministers especial Mrs. Nyandeng de Mabior. Well, she was represented the Minister position of Great Bor, Akobo, Murles, and Anyuak Community in that region. If the cabinet of Kiir eager to make changes for the Ministers then the regions need someone within the region, but not from his back-yards. I know this kind of ideology it will affect people in other part, if there is no careful handle about it. But, how many Ministers in that GoSS layout in the office and look pretty without even doing a job, as even not Nyandeng de Mabior, if is term of well done work? Whether, she is a women we need her there in period of time?
Eventually, some cadre clans like the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM came form “Shilluk Community” and also Lam Akol, who working for national affairs as also came from same clan, as even is not a region. And so many peoples in that clan, I know them in that false-hood Cabinet. Besides, the Unity State or Bintiu we have Riek Machar Teny and Major General Paulino Matip Nhial in same region, but not same like Jong-Kulei-Bor such kind of positions holds. But, in Kiir back-yards we have more than ten peoples. On the other level, of Equatorian states we have less then four people in that region like house of speaker called Mr. Samson Kwaje and the rest of represents in that region too in the cabinet. But Upper Nile state is okay with three Ministers in that region within the cabinet. I myself, wondering such kind of changing will not affect some areas, while the people of South-Sudan are waiting a great referendum that was signed in 01/09/04 by late Garang de Mabior and end off in 07/09/05 in Khartoum. I hope we can’t violated such wonderful deal for our right and we should watch out incase our foe can’t violate our long journey toward of freedom of South-Sudan.
I have views the Government of South-Sudan GOSS is run into “false-hood from linebackers” as sweat-able place to rest and to loot, even anti-group workers are bumping, instead to keep the enemy busy? But the Great Empire States lose a man-hood within groups of disassembles in the House-Cabinet. It is called escalate of greedy hands back and forth from main enemy to luring un-visionary?
I would like to ask the GoSS, not dishonest our long fighting for in many decades to win freedom of all, but not dismasting? I have a lot of questions to ask from the Staffs to keep the foe busy as a good idea. But not layback and changes everything into back-yards is wrong ideology? While, the enemy keep the South-Sudan busy like the way they threaten the British Oil Company in South and White Nile remained and that what was signed by late Garang and support by Riek Machar Teny too. As accordingly to late Garang de Mabior the man of peace in the time of war, who keep better deal to keep his own enemy busy all the time……….and that what we need? But not little resources people fighting for, while the development is not yet or referendum. But, I know most of people don’t like briefly ideas as change of the nation. Especial looters dislike a better firefly!
By Manyok Mabiei
Chicago, IL, Midwest
[email protected]