Corruption: A silly game of blame in South Sudan
By Masmino Gore John
March 19, 2008 — The ordinary citizens of South Sudan have heard for decades how their counterparts in Northern Sudan have deprived South of their basic rights: essential commodities, human rights, socio-economic development and education. This is a strategy maliciously used by the successive Governments of Sudan to manipulate, mishandle and mistreat the people and their governments in South Sudan while the Northerners thrive economically, educationally, politically and socially.
In 1955, alarm bells of unbearable injustices and deprivation sounded loud in the South and were sooner rather than later translated into genuine political grievances, which ultimately nurtured flaring patriotic feelings amongst political organizations and political enthusiasts in South Sudan. Consequently, the first civil war erupted and Anyanya Movement was borne. This witnessed massive defection of men and women to the movement’s ranks and files and gained incredible material and moral support from all sections of the community in South Sudan. In 1972, however, the then popular President of the Sudan Jaafar Mohammed Nimeiri and Anyanya leader Mr Joseph Lagu reached peaceful settlement and hammered out an agreement popularly known as Addis Ababa Accord. This popular agreement attracted a lot of enthusiasm and jubilation among Southern and Northern Sudanese alike as the long-running and destructive war in the South was draining Sudan of its potentials- human or natural resources. Both parties (Southerners and Northerners) were relieved by this cessation of hostilities.
In the North, socio-economic development started to pick up in a steady pace and continued to flourish. While in the South, social and economic progress was taking a tortoise pace. What caused this development disparity was the fact that there were measures put in place in the North to counter or minimize the rate of corruption. Whereas in the South it seems as if there were measures instituted to loot any government money or property.
As South Sudan emerged from the devastating civil war with impact ostensibly visible- no infrastructures, limited health and educational services, food and drinks were in scarcity. Soon after signing the Addis Ababa Agreement, instead of sowing seeds of hope and expectation in the minds of the ordinary citizens in the South, the following evils were apparently witnessed and perpetuated by the very people (politicians, elites, etc) who beat the drum of patriotism during the civil war (1955-1972):
-Political struggle between the then leaders (Mr. Abel Alier and Mr. Joseph Lagu) of the High Executive Council, the autonomous legitimate government in South Sudan.
-Rampant corruption and embezzlement of public funds perpetuated by some officials in all levels of the government.
– Tribalism and hate crimes sored across the region especially in diverse cities like Juba.
– Nepotism and malpractices in employment procedures
– Apparent insecurity and instability particularly in big cities like Juba, Malakal and Wau
Instead of leaders of the High Executive Council getting gripe with the situation by devising, adopting and implementing robust procedures for dealing with the axes of evil (problems) in the midst of South Sudanese, they resorted into political fall-and-sell-out strategy whereby they ran and sought favour of GOS whenever one was out of presidency of H.E.C. The GOS in Khartoum didn’t hesitate to seize this golden opportunity (loophole) and indulgently started to swing and swap them in and out H.E.C presidency.
The silent majority (civil population) in the entire South Sudan painfully and helplessly watched the situation gradually sliding into untold suffering of the whole population in the region. Rampant corruption was clearly visible; desirable political vision and practice was inexcusably replaced by anarchy and political despair; the gap between the looters (corrupt officials) and the looted (ordinary citizens) increased dramatically; public services and infrastructures were in constant deterioration; insecurity and tribal feuds were a commonplace. Worse of all, the ordinary citizens of South Sudan were intentionally denied their basic human rights or freedom to democratically elect their leader (MOSES) of their choice who would have led them to freedom and prosperity in South Sudan (THE PROMISED LAND).
The deteriorating situation in the South necessitated some conscientious, courageous and patriotic men and women in the region to ask morally obligated and fundamental questions in relation to peace, prosperity, tranquility and democracy in the region. Some concerned South Sudanese kept asking the following fundamentally principal question: WHY HAS THE SITUATION NOT CHANGED FOR THE BETTER AS EXPECTED SINCE ADDIS ABABA AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED? The answer to this disturbing question was arguably and excusably given as THE AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH SUDAN DID NOT GET ENOUGH DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR IMPROVING THE SITUATION. Shamelessly, this cover-up answer was given at the time when even a blind person could realize that there were funds given to Southern leaders. The money was not used appropriately to improve services and infrastructure. Evidently, ordinary citizens in South Sudan could painfully watched multi-storey buildings staggeringly rising along Khor Bou River in Juba. Moreover, those few individuals in position of responsibility inconsiderately and sensilessly acquired latest powerful vehicles and Western life style.
As the political fall and sell out between Joseph Lagu and Abel Alier, rampant corruption, nepotism, lack of basic services and social unrest continued unabatedly, coupled with political melt down (mounting pressure on president Nimeiri to declare Sudan as an Islamic State) in Khartoum reached a boiling point, the President finally gave in to the NIF and hammered the last nail on the coffin by declaring Islamic Sharia Laws and decentralized South into three undesirable states against the wishes and will of the majority of South Sudanese; thus giving a devastating blow to the hard-earned autonomous government in Juba.
This perfect opportunity was quickly seized and exploited by some of our heroic and patriotic leaders in the South such as our late hero Dr John Garang de Mabior, Salva Kiir Mayardiit, late Kerbino Kwany Bol, and many others, some of whom fatefully paid ultimate price and felled in the process of struggle.
These patriots launched the second phase of civil war (1983) in the history of South Sudan and formed a political and military movement popularly known as SPLM/SPLA, which fiercely and persistently challenged successive governments in Khartoum in the battlefields. The calls and echoes of the movement received rapid response from courageous and patriotic men and women in the South, Nuba Mountains and Eastern Sudan. The number of defectors swelled vastly by hundreds fastly forming SPLM/SPLA mighty force that challenged NIF in Khartoum. The majority of those who joined ranks and files of SPLM/SPLA wholeheartedly believed in the liberation of Sudan from the oppressors (GOS). However, during the struggle, what our leaders, freedom fighters and the South Sudanese population did not realize was a bunch of corrupt individuals who joined the movement with intent to rip off SPLM/SPLA of its popularity as peoples’ movement formed to alleviate the suffering of Sudanese people in general and South Sudanese in particular. Some of these individuals and the newly groomed ones reached the high ranks of SPLM/SPLA cadres and started to misuse their influence; hence abusing their positions of responsibility by inconsiderately and senselessly practising corruption and other malpractices.
While the majority of SPLM/SPLA commissioned and non-commissioned officers were genuinely pursuing the course of liberation, other SPLM/SPLA personnel busied themselves acquiring illegal wealth and properties. At the time when our gallant and patriotic SPLM/SPLA officers/officials painstakingly and tirelessly continued challenging the regime in Khartoum with limited basic necessities such as footwear, foods and ammunitions, the self-centred and internally bred enemies of the Movement were evidently milking the movement and shamelessly enriching themselves.
Then came the CPA (2005), which was wholeheartedly and genuinely embraced, by all sections of the Sudanese people. Once more, this raised high hopes and expectations of many South Sudanese people as they were promised nearly half of the proceeds from the Oil Revenue. Some people were tempted to assume quick recovery from the devastating impact of the war as all aspects of live, livelihood; properties and infrastructures were nearly destroyed across the region. Others (including myself) who have learned from the past history (1972-1983) gave a brave face of caution and skepticism in as far as handling and appropriation of public funds is concerned.
In 2005 the most needed Peace deal was reached between SPLM/SPLA and the Government of Sudan, paving the way for establishment of seemingly autonomous Government of South Sudan. Not long after institution of GOSS, ordinary people across the region started to hear news of scandalous stories of corruption and embezzlement by GOSS high and junior ranking officials. The public also heard of some GOSS officials making open allegations that GONU/NIF was not giving them enough funds from the oil proceeds as agreed in the CPA. This made the president of GONU to gather courage, lost temper and went on air by making shocking public revelation that some start-off substantial amount of money was released and given to late Dr John Garang and the peace delegation in Khartoum. This shocking revelation did not go unnoticed, thus many concerned South Sudanese started to raise their eyes browse, murmurs and tab their chests.
What our poor and hungry politicians, however, did not realize was the fact that that money was probably given as a Breathalyzer to test their behavioural attributes towards public funds. Or possibly, the government in Khartoum got carried away by the fact that SS leadership comprised of highly experienced and skilled personalities carrying world recognized and honoured titles such as professor, commander, doctor, etc. This belief, however, proved otherwise when more frustrating stories of corruption and open nepotism started to filter out and more blames on GONU started to resonate loudly.
This drove many South Sudanese to believe that GOSS officials use blames to shy away from deeply rooted corruption and embezzlement practices. The latest blame game came from the president of GOSS in his recent speech to the Governors’ Conference in Juba whereby he blamed Governors for the current tortoise pace development taking place in the Southern states. To many credible minded South Sudanese, this embarrassing and vilifying statement is indicative of the acknowledgement of the fact that GOSS is fully aware of the shocking state of corruption in the region but unwilling to take appropriate measures/action to curtail the situation.
Although the public have heard about the whitewash or inactive government corruption commissions and investigation committees set up since 2005, nothing have been heard about X and Y brought to face court of justice, answer charges of corruption and punished accordingly. This leads ordinary SS to believe that the so-called corruption commissions are mainly established to shield and bury any alleged corruption scandal; after all the corruption commissions comprise of some elements of GOSS/SPLM who are allegedly and indulgently involved in embezzling public funds.
To get grip of the situation in South Sudan and meet aspirations of South Sudanese, GOSS need to come up with serious and decisive action plan(s) similar to the following:
– Institute an independent corruption commission each time corruption allegations come up. The commission should comprise of highly experienced and trained investigators with vetted backgrounds and track records.
– The investigation should be handled with strictest code of conduct and confidentiality. The findings of any investigation should be submitted to the law enforcement agency such as the police or the prosecution service without any form of interference whatsoever from the government or the suspect.
– Establish firm administrative and judicial code of practice across South Sudan for all judges to follow. Those who abuse their positions of responsibility should face full force of the law with dire consequences on their profession.
– Establish independent judicial organ where employment of its members is based on merits and qualification but not on tribal inclination, as is the case at the moment.
– Create independent media organ across SS and funds its operations.
– Use the media sensibly and purposefully to educate masses about the evil of corruption, tribalism, nepotism, etc. the media should also be used to “name and shame” those individuals who misappropriate public funds for their personal gains.
– Uphold and promote freedom of speech and democracy in all sections of the society.
These are few suggestions, which might help to minimize, if not to eradicate, the evil of corruption in our midst. The elimination of this seemingly incurable psychological disease in the minds of South Sudanese requires more than just government (GOSS) action. It requires the whole population in the region to join hands and demonize all forms of corruption. The whole society in SS needs to be made aware that stealing public fund/property is a disgraceful and unforgivable criminal offence punishable by law. And the law must fairly be applied in the same way to all citizens without impunity/immunity enjoyed by others. Also the public should know that engaging in any kind of corruption destroys reputation just as “shoplifting” and “prostitution” would do to a family in South Sudan.
Finally, instead of devising strategic means and ways of combating corruption in SS, GOSS and GONU are indulgently engaged in “blame” tactic which in my view is used as a cover up to blindfold South Sudanese population. Since the signing of CPA in 2005, money (however little) was given to GOSS. Yet we see no signs of development taking place. On the contrary, we see individuals benefiting from this money and leading high quality of life.
The author of this article is a South Sudanese resident in the UK and can be reached at [email protected].