South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
By Ngor Arol Garang
May 19, 2011 (ABYEI) – The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) called upon the international community to to give them more financial assistance to help with its developmental projects at a conference in Juba on Thursday.
The two day development plan conference kicked off in the capital of South Sudan, Juba, in the Home and Away Hotel.
“The Government of South Sudan is committed to translating policy statements into actions by implementing development projects in all the ten states but lack of resources holds up efforts to implement them “, said David Deng Athorbei, minister of finance and economic planning.
Athorbei sais it is time the international community honours pledges it made in the 2005 Oslo conference, where aid was earmarked for developmental work in South Sudan.
“We have projects to be implemented in all the ten states but resources are over-stretched by the list of priorities. This is why we feel it is time for the international community to honour pledges made in the Oslo conference. We need financial assistance. This is why are holding this conference. It is a conference, from which we can identify areas of priorities for our development plan”, explained the finance minister, in a telephone interview with Sudan Tribune from Juba, shortly after opening the conference on Thursday.
The conference also called upon government and development partners to monitor and evaluate implementation of various development projects.
Deng Makuac, a participant at the conference, pointed out in a separate interview with Sudan Tribune from Juba that experiences have shown that some development projects being executed by contractors, particularly in remote areas, were not properly supervised.
”It seems that some of the designated officials, either from the government or representative from the development partners, are not performing their duties in monitoring the use of public and other financial resources in their respective areas.
“It is important for the local authorities from where projects are being implemented assist the Government of South Sudan ensures effective and efficient use of the public resources in their respective areas,” said Athorbei.
”The beneficiaries must always remember that they have responsibility to ensure that the financial and other physical resources are used for intended purpose and not otherwise,” he stressed.
Antipas Nyok, secretary general for political affairs and organisation with the South’s governing party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), in an interview with Sudan Tribune, also described the development plan conference as success for his party
Nyok hailed the government for what he described as its “unquenchable desire” to promote and support various development projects, specifically in the security, roads, health, agriculture, education and water sectors.
“A lot of money has been set aside for the construction of economic roads and referral hospitals in strategic places that will accommodate patients. Some of the roads and hospitals are in their final stages of completion”, he said.
“A lot of development projects are being implemented here [Juba] by the Government of South Sudan because it is going to be the national capital. So, we call upon local and foreign investors to invest in South Sudan because there is now plenty of opportunity for them to invest here,” said Nyok.
Nyok brushed aside recent media claims propagated by some opposition politicians that some members of the SPLM had contemplated defecting or forming a new party over allegations that they have been sidelined and marginalized.
These senior members of the SPLM accused of contemplating defection include Ismail Konyi, a former presidential advisor on peace and conflict resolution; Mark Nyipuoc, a former governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state; Elession Ojetuk; and a former governor of Eastern Equatoria state.
He described the allegations as “absolute lies”, and stressed that whoever wants to know the truth about the matter should consult relevant authorities, including the registrar of political parties. “In my opinion, I think that is simply political fabrications aimed at tarnishing the image of other people,” he explained, reiterating that the party’s general secretariat is open for reform of the party for promotion of democratic principle for real and pragmatic political pluralism”.
South Sudan will become independent on July 9, following a referendum vote agreed as part of a 2005 peace deal.
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Riak
South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
Hi there!
Big Crooks must change the way business is ran in Juba.
Kitchen Cabinet must be the first to lead the way.
Otherwise, begging always in the name of nation to enriched the few is useless.
We’ve enough monies, but the disease is corruption aided by tribalism, nepotism excetra. Solution is: the kitchen cabinet must back-off and then definitely they rest will follows.
belle loboi
South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
the government of the South Sudan should be more carefully when the talk about development of our country. A Lot of ministries in the post now are really confused of definition of development and money. no hospital, clinic, and dispensaries in any region in South Sudan. I basically know their truly problem is lack of education, but what can we do at this junction?, only to wait for their time to expire in the next hours, days, months, and year to come.
Sam.Eto
South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
‘He described the allegations as “absolute lies”, and stressed that whoever wants to know the truth about the matter should consult relevant authorities, including the registrar of political parties.’
WHY DONT YOU ASK THEM YOU IGNORANT OFFICIAL ! OH – Thats right you probably arrested or killed them like you do anyone that shakes your hand in truth!
Mr. godfather master of reality
South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
you have so much money at home
south Sudan is very reach OIL, GOLD, FOREST, I CAN GO ON AND ON
BUT DINKA’S CORRUPTION BLOCKING SOUTH development
Akot Akot
South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
Mr. Riak, you said right. What we need is not cash but somebody to manage that money. Why always beg in the name of innocent citizens yet when given money end up in the hands of thugs called ministers, undersecretaries and DGs. a tribal corrupt government. God come down on these organized thugs.
Akot Akot Dengdit
James Okuk Solomon
South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
What the World Bank Saya on Juba Under the SPLM
Overview
Doing Business in Juba 2011 measures business regulations and their enforcement in Juba, Southern Sudan. The report focuses on 9 topics that affect the life of a small or medium-size domestic enterprise in Juba: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business. The ease of doing business in Juba can now be compared to the ease of doing business in other economies measured annually by Doing Business. It is one of the first reports providing benchmarking data for Juba and Southern Sudan.
Main Findings
Compared to the 183 economies measured by Doing Business, Juba would rank 159th on the ease of doing business. Behind this ranking, however, there are considerable variations on a topic by topic basis (see figure below).
On the ease of starting a business, Juba would rank 123rd. Thanks to the success of the well staffed and governed Business Registry set up in 2006, entrepreneurs can start a business in just 15 days. However, costs are high because of multiple fees to state and local authorities.
On protecting investors, getting credit, and closing a business, Juba would rank 173rd, 176th, 179th respectively, reflecting an incomplete legal framework.
On trading across borders, Juba would rank 181st. Using the port of Mombasa in Kenya, an entrepreneur must fill 11 documents, wait 60 days and spend US$9,420 to import a container and 9 documents, 52 days and US$5,025 to export it. Over half of the delay is due to paperwork: to obtain a letter of credit, traders must first obtain an approval from the Bank of Southern Sudan to transfer funds abroad, which adds 22 days to the process.
Mr. godfather master of reality
South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
correction
south Sudan is very reach
i mean to say South Sudan is very rich
marie
South Sudan calls for financial assistance and denies political defection claims
The international community pledged to help GOSS financially during Oslo conference but has retracted because of the rampant looting spree in Juba.
Those whites are not stupid. They are not going to flush their money down the drain. If our people are serious and have tangible proof of the projects they have initiated using the help given to them, probably they will get sympathizers, otherwise, they are not going to buy into this cheap lies.
Change the way of doing business in Juba to get help from the international community, other if we continue with the status quo, we have to fasten our belts for the rough ride.