Sudan’s Machar says corruption allegations are “unfounded”

By James Gatdet Dak

August 17, 2008 (JUBA) – The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and Deputy Chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Riek Machar Teny, on Saturday said allegations of corruption labeled against him in the media were “unfounded.”

Sudan Tribune on Friday quoted Mama Rebecca Nyandeng, GoSS Presidential Advisor on Gender and Human Rights and widow of the late founder of the SPLM, John Garang de Mabior, as allegedly accusing the Vice President in the parliament session of bringing foreign companies to Southern Sudan so that he could get percentages of commissions in return.

Rebecca Nyandeng, however, on Saturday denied the allegations published by the media describing them as “baseless” and saying she did not accuse the Vice President of any such allegations.

Machar was also assured by the Southern Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission that the Commission did not have any single report or record of corruption case labeled against him among the recorded corruption cases even during the time he was also holding an additional portfolio as the Minister of Housing, Lands and Public Utilities between 2005 and 2007.

The Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Pauline Riak last month told the press that her institution has recorded more than 14,000 cases of corruption in the first six months of the year 2008 alone, which are pending investigations.

She said there was outright stealing of money throughout the semi-autonomous Government.

Last year, the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly evaluated general performances of all the institutions of the Government and rated Machar’s headed institution as the most well performed and was ranked number one by the parliament with scores of 87% while the least performed and last ranked GoSS Ministry was rated at 10%.

(ST)