Southern Sudanese calls for resignation of GOSS Head of Mission in Ethiopia

Southern Sudanese Communities Leaders calls for Resignation of Mr. Arop Deng Kuol, GOSS Head of Mission in Ethiopia

March 7, 2011

The entire Southern Sudanese Communities in Ethiopia are calling for Mr. Arop Deng Kuol’s resignation as GOSS Head of Mission in Addis Ababa over misuse of Diaspora money which was given by the South Sudan Referendum Taskforce
We the Southern Sudanese Communities in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Pinydu Refugee camp and Sharakolo camp appeal to the President of GOSS to recall back Major Arop Deng Kuol as GOSS Head of Mission to Ethiopia. We don’t think that Major Arop Deng Kuol activities in Ethiopia are not servicing the national interest of South Sudan base on the following:

1. Mr. Arop Deng Kuol wrote a letter to the communities that they are not allowed to visit the GOSS Liaison office. Yes, we accept that and we instructed our members not to visit GOSS Liaison office in Addis Ababa, until Mr. Arop leave Ethiopia or GOSS office.

1. The Referendum Task Force has given us 200,000 USD for referendum preparation and mobilization, instead Mr. Arop Deng Kuol took the money as a personal gift from his brother Deng Alor kuol, Minister of Regional Cooperation and also divided the money to these following institutions, which did not even ask for the money;

– Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, 20,000 USD for diplomatic recognition
– Embassy of Sudan in Ethiopia, 10,000 USD
– Economic Commission for Africa /ECA/ 10,000 USD
– GOSS Liaison office staffs 20,000 USD as referendum gifts
– SPLA special branch 5,000 USD
– Arop Deng Kuol a Head of Mission, 30,000 USD
– All Southern Sudanese communities who have voted 100% received none

We, the Southern Sudanese Communities in Ethiopia have worked so hard to mobilize our communities throughout the Ethiopia and communities unanimously voted 100%. But our contribution has been denied by Mr. Arop Deng Kuol who was supposed to support referendum activities for the fact that the people he represents the GOSS in Ethiopia.

For the last 6 years, Mr. Arop Deng Kuol has succeeded to convince the GOSS and the Office of the of the President of GOSS that these communities are Nuer Ethiopian and denying the existence of Southern Sudanese. However, the referendum has shown that these people are Sudanese and have voted 100% for separation and it is a shame for Mr. Arop and his tribesmen in the Ministry of Regional Cooperation.

We have been patient enough to let Mr. Arop play this game for a long time. It is time for our community to act on this matter as soon as possible, if the GOSS doesn’t take any actions.

Mr. Arop Deng Kuol as GOSS Head of Mission did not help our communities during the referendum registration and voting period. When we asked the Liaison Office to assist the communities, the answer we got from him is that, write a letter to Dr. Riek Machar in Juba to send your money.

Mr. Arop Deng’s activities as a GOSS diplomatic representative are doing a lot of damage for our bilateral relations with Ethiopia. His activities has been known by many Ethiopian officials in the ministry of Foreign Affairs as a trader in Ethiopia and his relationships with the communities he is supposed to represent is not good as a diplomat.

We call up on the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request the GOSS to recall back Mr. Arop as soon as possible because his activities are damaging our present and future bilateral relations. Therefore, your immediate action will be highly appreciated by our communities.

We are also appealing to the leadership of 2011Referundum Task Force to send delegations to Addis Ababa as soon as possible to resolve the issue of money with the GOSS Liaison office.

Finally we call upon on H. E the President of GoSS Salva Kiir Mayardit to show a statesmanship to our people and to the world that he is able to lead the New Republic. These corrupt individuals like Mr. Arop Deng Kuol are not serving your government’s interest and this will create more enemies to your leadership.

1. Paulino Gatluak Biel South Sudan Student Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2. John Tibang Lual SPLM Chapter Secretary for Political Affairs, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
3. Nhial Abol Nhial, Referendum Representative
4. Juac Bol Bichok, Pinydu Referendum Camp Representative
5. Obong Othiw, Sharakol Refugee Camp Representative

CC: Office of the President of GOSS,
CC: Office of the Vice-President, GOSS
CC: Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs
CC: Minister of Information, GOSS
CC: African Union, Addis Ababa
CC: Economic Commission for African ( ECA)Head of Commission
CC: Sudanese Ambassador to Ethiopia.
CC: South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission
CC. Addis English Daily Reports