US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
December 13, 2011 (JUBA) – The United States is hosting a two day International Engagement Conference for the newly born nation of South Sudan beginning on Wednesday. A high level delegation under President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Sunday left Juba for Washington D.C. and arrived on Monday.
Participants from international community include the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Hilde F. Johnson.
According to a presidential a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, Kiir is expected to address the opening session of the conference on Wednesday 14 December 2011.
The US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, is expected to participate in the conference, which will discuss issues connected to the strategic development priorities of the new government and will highlight opportunities for engagement with private and public sector investors.
Other South Sudanese ministers attending the conference include Joseph Ukel minister of general education and instruction, Stephen Dhieu minister of petroleum and mining, Garang Diing minister of commerce, industry and investment, Agnes Lasuba minister of gender children and social welfare, Gier Chuang Aluong minister of roads and bridges.
Reacting on the visit, Deng Mawien Dut, a resident of Juba said the accompanying delegation should have been limited to technocrats.
“There is no doubt all the accompanying ministers have issues to share with other countries at such a high level conference but I think would it have wise if our government had reduced the number delegates,” said Dut suggesting that the expenses of such as large delegation could have been put to better use.
Another resident who did not want to be named described the entourage travelling with Kiir as “parasitic” and that a smaller delegation would have been more efficient.
According to the press release the areas of engagement between South Sudan and the US will include: Development plans, Accountability, Transparency and Governance, Integrated social service delivery Management of Oil Revenue, Human Capital Development and capacity building, International coordination, Key factors for attracting investors to South Sudan: Oil and Renewable Resources Information and communication Technology (ICT), Agriculture, Specific investment policy in Transport infrastructure (Airports, roads and Bridges, Clean Water and sanitation Capacity building services.
(ST)
omoni jr.
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
Ala!!
It is another way of looting and wasting money for development. why president accompanied with too many delegations like that? 150??
Waste of money!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Akumadit
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
What a government? The president of South Sudan has been wasting and still wasting our resources when our people are starving. What is the purpose of 150 delegates costing us $ 9 millions in 3 days conference. Regime change is imminent to save our people. Kiir must go now.
Regard,
Akuma
Sundayw
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
What a waste of money. Kiir would have achieved begging with a smaller delegation or no more than 10 (excluding his protection). This entourage is costing poor South Sudan money that would have been spent building schools and hospitals. But no, Kiir and his Gogrial minions feel that this was a good vacation to pass up.
Kur William
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
Abosultely this is mismangement of funds these high number of delegastes who accompanied Kirr are out of character,three to five people are enough for the jobs.
Matiop Panchol
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
A delegation of 10 would have been enough. The travel cost of all these people would have been enough to feed the hundreds people starving in the many states in the country. “BUT the leaders must have fun; so they have to go and enjoy the luxury of USA, that is the cost of building the nation.” Waaw!!! See how committed the government is to the people?
J P Puok
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
I think UN should emphasize on the RSS fighting corruption and Kiir should not sing that awkward song he is used to ! zero tolerance to corruption which to me sound like NCP slogan of ‘SALAAM WE-EL TADMIA” meainig peace and development,meanwhile the opposite is true. SS people to be entrusted to UN care like Kosovo or what I don’t know
Peter Nhiany
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
Oh my God, where the hell on earth would a country delegates 150 officials to attend a conference? Is Kiir out of his senses? What is wrong with this man my people? How much money would that be? Is Kiir trying to give a chance to some of his ministers who have not seen the USA to see it now? There is a problem with Kiir’s administration in RSS. People are
George Bol
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
We should begin to know tangible and intangible resources. The meeting is very important to almost all the ministries level in the ROSS.
What we should be focusing is the very vital developmental issues that these 150 delegations will invest to their ministries.
Yes,the number of delegations is huge but that should not make most of you to get disappointed because we need them to take examples.
Peter Nhiany
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
Brother Matiop, this is a real issue. I can not believe what Kiir administeration is doing!!! People are being kill and many are starving to death while others are suffering from preventable diseases and Kiir is wasting money on just ministers travel expenses. This is mad and crazy. Kiir is helping in the dying of South South Sudan’s citizens. Shame shame and shame again.
Peter Nhiany
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
George you have no idea how bad it is to dispatch 150 delegates at once from a very newly form country where people are in dire needs. Think about it again brother and you will know what those who are raged by this move are talking about. Yes we need development, but not in the way our government is tackling it.
Peter Nhiany
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
George, remember all the 150 RSS officials would be seated in the first class or business row on the flight and you know the cost for one seat. Lets do the math. Business class seat cost up to $3000+. Multiply that by 150. It will give you” $450000+. Hotel accomodation in Washington are wicked expensive. That will cost over $225000 for 150 delegates. Put it all together: $675000. Isn’t it a waste?
Thondet Manyang
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
My worries are not money, but their lives. Why can’t our government thinks of changing such a attitudes by allowing either two or three VIPs to use one plane in case something happen, that will be big mess. Our leaders like touring the world but it is not one day plan. Are they students or government Officials? Arab are still after us and still our government comfortable. God help back in peace!!!
Logic
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
George, its an absolute joke that such a large delegation of government ministers should attend a conference, and don’t forget that all of those ministers would be accompanied by their assistants/ administrators.
Why not send technocrats?
This does not happen in other countries where budget control is a priority, it would be good if other entities apart from GoSS are contributing to the bill.
Peter Nhiany
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
Logic, “Why not send technocrats?” Very funny question and absolutely you right they should be sending technocrats. However, talking about budget being a priority is a good point but our government officials only budget to their pockets. I know this comment will anger some people, but that is a truth. If they don’t onlu budget to their pockets, their would has been no allegation of corruption.
SeekingTruth
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
WHY NOT PICK UP BOOKS THAT TALK ABOUT HOW RESOURCES ARE DELIVERED EFFICIENTLY AND EQUITABLY TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC OR THE GRASS ROOT LEVELS, HOW DEVELOPMENT IS SPEED UP IN ORDER TO MEET GOALS OF THE NEEDY OR THE BOOKS THAT WILL TEACH ON HOW CORRUPTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE TACKLED RATHER THAN RISKING MILLIONS ON TRANSPORT/OTHER SERVICES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED BUILDING HEALTH CENTRES, ROADS OR ….
J P Puok
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
you have got a point gentleman! it could be like Zambian footteam of 1994. God prohibit !
SeekingTruth
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
….SCHOOLS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ROSS CITIZENS? OOPS! I GET IT, IF YOU DON’T GO TO AMERICA SO THAT U HEAR IT FROM THEIR PERSONNELS, IT WON’T BE AS EFFICIENCY OR EFFECTIVE AS AMERICANS WOULD HAVE DONE IT FOR U. COME ON GUYS, IS IT REALLY REASONABLE TO TAKE 150 GOVT OFFICICALS TO ANOTHER COUNTRY FOR WORKSHOP THAT IS NOT FOR FREE? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BE THINKING RATIONALLY PEOPLE OF ROSS?
Majak Mawien
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
Peace upon them
Defense and security would have been added. We suffer alot with threats from Khartoum.
Land-of-Cush
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
Apart from all you says, Salva is always thinking as he may died alone and left the rest of south sudanese leaders alife. This is not the first time for him to go with huge delegation. But the losing of huge delegation as such will left us behind with unforgetable mood.
Wiseman
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
“150” delegates lead by the president!!! may be the have put country in their brifcases and take it with them otherwise it will make little or NO sense at all in term of country’s security,logistical support of 150, and their safety at large.Using oil money in this manner will further corruption to deep rooted in the country.Anyway no problem they’re still learning new things.
watchdog-alanilson
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
Deng Mawien, your critique point of view have speaks louder in many peace lovers and civil-caregivers mind. Goss leadeship’s incivility from the top to the bottom is creating more death and increasingly number of enemies against newest government. where in the world can a president ignore the predictions of famine in the South, still waste national resources on creation with visionless delegations
Mapuor
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
150 hooooooo.God,is it rxposure visit or what?.Those of Giir who do not speak good english should have been left behind
Tambura
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
All food lovers are on delegate list. God help South Sudan from those corrupted people. If that trip is going to cost 300,000 only for tickets each person have to get 10,000 USD as pocket money out of hotel rent, cars rents cost another 1000 USD a day for each person this is 150,000 a day we don t know how long they are going to stay there.The conference need five people only why 150 people?
Twin cities
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
This is absurd. 150 delegates to do what? I wish they can really learn. How many times do they need to accompany the President to such conferences? I wonder if they can really get something out of this conference to benefit their ministries. Real misuse of tax payers money. Incredible how funds are really use in our country.
Ahmed Chol
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
SAFETY: Don’t put all your eggs in one Basket
Don’t repeat the same mistake that happen in Poland in 2008 when all the top government officials travel in one plane which later crashed and then the country mourned bitterly.
think like soldiers, don’t rely on luck!
Ahmed Chol, whatever begins in anger ends in shame
Odingo
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
SPLA is Full Of Political corruption.
Folks, such a huge amount of money would have been given to those people who are starving in Warrap State and Norhtern Bhar El ghazal State.150 deligations,is the wasting of public funds. Folks, the president need only five deligations to accompany him. Folks, president is apart of corruption.Donors can not donate when people are dying in SS while 150 tak
Stomach Politician
US hosts international engagement conference for South Sudan
If the conference is suppose to take the whole government officials, then why is done in U.S. U.S government is suppose to do in Juba city.. Thats how our politicians care for their stomach before the citizens.. U.S is even encouraging the corruption which is happening in the S.S. President when talking in his speech about Anti corruption in the conference, You have prove the corruption 150 delegt