South Sudan pressured to combat corruption
By Ngor Arol Garang
February 18, 2011 (ABYEI) – Weeks after the head of the Juba Bank of South Sudan and who doubles up as deputy governor of the Bank of Sudan, Elijah Malok Aleng, expressed disapproval at the illicit flow of public funds to foreign countries.
The nascent government of South Sudan on Friday says embarked on procedures to stop the illegal transfer of money to foreign banks.
Government officials and private businesses are believed to have siphoned off billions of dollars mostly from the oil revenues. South Sudan depends heavily from revenues from oil. Little attention is paid to none oil revenues.
Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, undersecretary in the ministry finance and economic development said in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday that the government is tightening regulations and making necessary arrangements with foreign countries to track money deposited by individual officials both from the government and companies
The government’s statement follows revelations made by anti corruption commission that the commission has gathered relevant information indicating the illicit transfer of public funds into accounts outside the region, which is due become independent in July in a referendum.
The governors latest statement appears to be in reaction to the public outcry caused by the announcement of the corruption allegations.
“Like any other concerned citizens and officials from south Sudan, the government is equally interested in unearthing and addressing such allegations but this cannot be done without assistance from the citizens” the banks governor said.
“Bringing the money back from the countries to which they were stashed, if possible is not uneasy task that can be tackled by the government. It needs collective efforts. The ministry of finance does not persecute. It controls the public funds”, explained Aleng.
Mabiordit, however, said the finance ministry would at the same time try to take serious steps to plug the loopholes through which these evasions have taken place. “What the ministry of finance can do is to educate all authorities to ensure that they embrace right procedures in their engagements. But again this requires collective efforts and public cooperation to ensure that financial rules and regulations are followed”, he said.
Aleng, a senior member of the southern ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the SPLM, in 2009 threatened to name senior members of the government who have failed to pay back money they borrowed from the Nile Commercial Bank, which had contributed to the collapse of the first post-conflict indigenous financial institution to South Sudan.
The Nile Commercial Bank first operated in areas controlled by the SPLM in the areas they controlled during the North-South civil war, which ended in 2005 after over two decades of conflict.
The bank was first headquartered in Yambio, capital of Western Equatoria in between 2002 and 2003 when it begun to operate before it was moved to Rumbek, capital of Lakes state, which used to be one of the headquarters of the former rebel movement.
With the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 and the leadership of the SPLM and the bank moved to Juba, where it started to operate with financial assistance from the newly established SPLM dominated government of South Sudan.
In 2008, the bank started granting loans to individuals with agreement to pay them back within a specific period but most of the beneficiaries failed to meet the deadlines. The bank did not receive enough support to make up for this short-fall and the bank collapsed in 2009.
Following the collapse of the bank the southern government has been under pressure to name those accused of not paying back the loans but so far it has refused to identify them. The South Sudan government has also not announced the officials believed to have secret bank accounts. The names are reported to have been verified by the anti-graft commission.
An official from anti-corruption commission, who requested anonymity as they were not permitted to speak to the media, told Sudan Tribune: “Today if the anti-corruption commission reveals the secrecy and names of those whose accounts were found in the foreign countries, day after tomorrow the other countries to which these money has been stashed will not give us information. They will raise accusing fingers against us that you do not meet international commitment.”
“The anti corruption [commission] does not have legal authority to persecute. Our mandate is limited to gathering information and filing cases to the ministry of legal affairs and constitutional development in the government of south Sudan”, he adds.
The government’s clarifications have not satisfied the public and members of opposition political parties. Some have accused the government of being vague about the measures being taken to crack down on corrupt and illegal practices in South Sudan.
Tong Lual Ayat, the chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP), said the government and the commission has the duty to act.
“There is a widespread discontentment from the public surrounding the way the commission deals with issues connected to corruptions. The commission has the duty to act. Effective measures against misappropriation of public funds and money laundering need to be enforced so that the public retains confidence in the government commitment to combat this disease”, Ayat said.
“The president [of South Sudan] has said it time and again that there is no room for corruption. Legal procedures must be followed so that identified corrupt individuals whether members of the government or from business communities are brought to book before the public”, said Ayat.
“Our people want meaningful action and not elusive replies. The president has given the clear mandate to the anti corruption commission to conduct investigation and report to the relevant institutions like the ministry of legal affairs and constitutional development,” he said.
The government has been under pressure to address graft after a series of corruption scandals were exposed in recent months. A group of prominent civil society organizations and faith based groups have called on political leaders to address rising corruption and a governance deficit in the country. Graft and insecurity are two of the key concerns South Sudan has at it approaches independence from the north in July following a referendum.
The 28 signatories of the open letter to president of the government of south Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, seen by Sudan Tribune on Friday on the subject. Signatories include judges and religious leaders, including Bishop Isaac Dhieu from Episcopal Church of Sudan.
The letter says they want a war declared against corruption, saying it corrodes the fabric of the nation.
The letter also expresses alarm at what it calls a widespread governance deficit in the government, businesses and institutions. The spotlight has been on official graft after allegations that the government still needs to pay 400 contractors who claimed to have delivered grains to various states in the region.
In 2008 presidential and legislative directives instructed the ministry of finance to buy grain to be stocked and sold at subsidized prices during a food shortage. However the project was mishandled, resulting in loss of an estimated $200 million of dollars, with some companies still claiming they are owed money from the scheme. Many of the companies are believed to have been fronts used to gain payments from the government.
Mayuen Akot Madut, a primary teacher in Turalei Twic County, Warrap State, in an interview with Sudan Tribune said the letter reflects the growing concern about the impact that graft could have on economic growth in the region.
“I think there is a widespread fear in the middle class and in the public nobility that the progress that South Sudan has been making in the last six years can be sustained if there is no political commitment to reform the process. The political system we have today is corrupt beyond belief and the rebellion is coming out against it from all over (society).
“If no actions are enforced, I believe the situation will deteriorate and this will encourage disgruntled groups to follow General George Athor. There will be economic rebellion. There will be many Athor’s in the bush if nothing is done. Something needs to be done before it is too late”, commented Madut.
Athor has led a rebellion in Jonglei state after losing his bid to become the state’s governor in last year’s April elections.
However, officials from the SPLM-led government, whose credibility has been hit because of the allegations of corruption, have promised to punish those found guilty of graft.
Dominic Deng Kuoc Malek, commissioner of Twic county and a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), has described corruption a “disease spreading in our society,” and says measures must be adopted to curb it.
Commissioner Malek also said although it is widely accepted that graft, which ranges from petty bribes to bigger kickbacks, is not a part of life of South Sudanese culture and that it can be controlled.
“It is easy to control corruption because it is not part of our cultures. Our people not are corrupt. Corruption in our communities does not exist. Our people are fond of pride. They eat what belongs to them. If you give someone you do not know to help you keep a cow you will get this cow with all her calves when you comeback after spending sometimes. Some people went to the north and others to Ethiopia and when they returned they got their cows. This is why I believe our people are not corrupt. It is not in their blood”, said commissioner Malek.
The letter by activists and rights groups – the first of its kind – wants the government to establish and empower independent institutions such as anti-corruption bodies so that investigative agencies are free of political interference.
The letter also calls on leaders to take steps to restore the self-confidence and self-belief of South Sudanese in themselves, the state, business and public institutions. Political analysts say the signatories to the letter have unimpeachable credentials and the concern they are voicing should be a wake-up call for the government to clean up the system.
(ST)
Murle Intellectual
South Sudan pressured to combat corruption
There are two corrupt zones need immediate action if this regime wants to survive. Those Dinka boys thugs along old custom road disgised as money changers, they have fake dollars and they rob people. The other is the road block thugs under military uniform
HONEY
South Sudan pressured to combat corruption
HOW fUNNY IS THIS?
i do not know any single figure in that government who has not stashed some cash away. Even the same people who are complaining of corruption have a hand in it. If you know who the thief is why not punish him accordingly?
The scary reality is unfolding in our eyes, we are heading down the same path like every other African country that have gained independence. Looting the country before it even begins is horrible news knowing that nothing lasts forever even oil.
Shame, shame to the officials who fought hard wars but are too weak to fight the easiest war there is. What did we fight for?
Janafil
South Sudan pressured to combat corruption
Almost all the ten states in the South Sudan Governors are corupt, all the incomes in the state markets and other source of income are used by governors that is why many of them are having banks account in other Countries with uncount Million of Dolars.
And when it come to the case of central bank of the South the signatories are accountable, so I wonder why we go arround looking for the names of coruptees when they are already known! I thinks everybody knows that many people are fighting over the post of Governorship and when they are already there they don’t do what can benefit the public. Late Dr.John was talking about the priority areas fall in the areas of health,Eduction but now I can see they are not priority areas by our current Government leaders, the priority areas by the current Government leaders fall in the areas of coruption(selfcertisfaction). Anti-corruption need to be reform and be given full authority to deal with coruption.
We the South citizens need this time to elect our leaders who can do the interest of the people. Look in all the ten states, the areas of health and Educations are not thought of as an important areas and our innocent people are dying of diseases every day, I want to argue the South Government to focus alot in areas of health, Education, agriculture and water and avoid those practices of self certisfaction.
Thanks
Bol Deng
South Sudan pressured to combat corruption
People miscalculate the term corruption as only the mismanagement of funds but its more than the used of money. Corruption means bribery, killings for favors, power struggle,nepotism, tribalism, hatred, selfishness, stealing,primitiveness,food lovers,murdering etc. How are we going to stop the above complex issues while there brainless like Kim Deng and gatwech plus their Khoryom Riak who are always tribalist on this net. Anything immoral against humanity is corruption if you guys does not know it. Thanks
Gatwech
South Sudan pressured to combat corruption
Dear readers,
Rubish!
How can the top officials in the ministry of Finance and Bank of South Sudan who are supposed to safeguard the economy and money of South Sudan complain like if they are not the ones responsible for the money looting?
Where do you need the ordinary public to cooperate in locating and prosecuting the corrupt officials who have stolen money and banked them in foreign banks?
It is you, Mr. Elijah Malok Aleng, Governor of Bank of South Sudan, who approves corrupt checks and cash them, and the ministers or officials of the ministry of Finance, who know these officials.
Or do you mean the public members used in this corruption ordeal. I guest you should start with your boys at customs and Juba town who rob dollar currency from Bank of South Sudan and exchange it on streets while the government is denied such hard currency.
If you want to locate those monies stolen and expatriated to foreign banks, just use the strategy of corruption commission by cooperating with all the 192 countries in the world. Let them direct their financial institutions to identify money coming from South Sudan and who deposited such monies. You will begin by freezing the money and carry out investigations.
Salvatore Garang Mabiordit of finance should appeal to Salvatore Kiir Mayardit of Presidency to act quickly and catch the thieves.
I guarantee that they will be brought to book either under this current leadership or in the near future under a differnt leadership.
We are serious because we cannot allow greedy thieves who do not care about their poor villagers to eat the money while their villages are still in the stone age.
These are foolish thieves because wise thieves would have used the stolen money to develop their villages, instead of spending them to develop their stomachs, drink in bars and spending them on ladies.
Pathetic!
Janafil,
Don’t just believe in late Garang’s delusional dreams. He just listed good sounding day dreams which he himself could not realize.
Garang was part of the corruption and actually nurtured corruption. Read his comment during Rumbek meeting in November 2004 (minutes on Southsudannation.com).
He was accused of corruption during his bush leadership. He just said corruption was a very big animal which was not easy to kill.
Read about the 60 million dollars Bashir revealed he gave to him and got corrupted by him and some of his close aides.
I can dream that I want to build a bridge across the ocean, that would sound good to hear, but the implementation would be difficult.
Yes, like the rest of the world’s set of development, Garang said the towns would be taken to villages. Good!
Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, his widow, was told to be in charge of roads so that the services can be taken to rural areas using those roads. Without roads, you cannot take towns to people in the rural areas. Nyandeng failed badly in implementing her husband’s dream. She even failed to make roads inside Juba.
It was alleged that Nyandeng corrupted the projects in Roads and Transport ministry and that was why she was removed and could not get any other ministry. She is now made a mere advisor for her to survive and for the sake of being the widow of late John Garang. The dream was just on paper and on the tongue of Nyandeng and Garang.
These people in the name of Elijah Malok are the ones in charge of financial institutions in the South, and yet they complain against their actions of approving corrupted cheques.
How can we believe what such people tell us or dream about.
Dreaming or saying a thing is different from doing it.
Those in change of finance and Bank of South Sudan should not pretend to be make themselves sound like angels when they are in fact members of the devils who authorized the misues of the money.
Pathetic!
Tambura
South Sudan pressured to combat corruption
Guys
What a hell is that? The int corruption was created by the same corrupted government officials we don’t expect any good job from them either. I am not in government office but I can still have document with names of those corrupted guys and where they hid the money. My people I will use it in election to let everybody know the truth. We know everything guys just enjoy stolen money I am sure time will come everybody will pay for his crime.
The government has been under pressure to address graft after a series of corruption scandals were exposed in recent months.
Pressure from who? if the top guys are the ones took the money in first place. You guys this world is getting smaller day by day what you do in hidden will come out one day to hunt you. When Barak Obama elected to office in America Bush empty the bank they congress have to inject 7 billions to safe USA economic. When W Equatoria governor elected to office people where there before him empty the bank,he received state without capital, they even loots state house until now nobody even int corruption never say any word about it. I was in Yambio for CPA celebration 2009 I saw over 50 VIP new cars which was belong to state today there is no even one of them in Yambio where those cars went? Omar said the money they received from 50% revenue was 8 billions. Place like south Sudan with that kind of money at least they could build every street in capital juba for last five years. My people the risk of talking about corruption in south Sudan is those corrupted official government know that you have their secret they will come after you with machetes and guns. There is no anyway we change just we have to elect people will fight corruption. We are going to have new country we need to elect new generation with new ideas, new faces to lead you, there for I will need your help I will that change. Vote for me
The next President of south Sudan
Tamboura
Atem Tuor
South Sudan pressured to combat corruption
Peter Mading,
You have vividly outlined the most fundamental facts and/or roots of corruption in The Government of Southern Sudan. It would be ultimately hard to combat corruption because it had already deepened it roots in various institutions. The government’s officials are not going to do away with it becasue they are part it, unless the masses took to the streets like in Egypt and Tunisia.