Sacked official accuses Khartoum governor of corruption

September 6, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The mayor of Khartoum who was sacked by the last week accused his boss of corruption particularly with regard to bids that he have to companies of his choice.

The governor Dr. Abdel-Haleem Al-Muta’fi fired Mayor Mubarak Alkoda and replaced him with Mohamed Salem but did not specify reasons though some reports said the reason for termination included “excessive absenteeism”.

Alkoda who was in Malaysia for medical reasons at the time, told the press that he has documents showing that Al-Muta’fi has “given bids to those who did not deserve it”.

The ex-mayor said that his dispute with the governor was centered on a contract placed for bidding to rent parking spaces near the train station.

He further described the governor as an “authoritarian” with a firm grip on the resources of Khartoum.

The bid was awarded to a company which offered the highest price but Al-Muta’fi reportedly overruled it and demanded that the contact be awarded to a different company.

Alkoda said he refused to comply with the orders of Al-Muta’fi, prompting his removal.

Some legislators in the state of Khartoum said the differences between the two men also included revenue & tax collection, the garbage collection company and advertisements. They also said that that the mayor has been stripped of his powers through budget cuts and decisions taken without consultations with him.

The legislators have requested the intervention of 2nd Vice President Ali Osman Taha to settle the matter.

Al-Muta’fi is well known in Sudan for making a large fortune through ownership of many businesses and real estates. He is also believed to be a business partner with one of the siblings of the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

(ST)