Kiir sacks deputy foreign affairs minister, suspends officials over stolen funds
April 12, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday issued a decree firing deputy Foreign Affairs minister for International Cooperation, Elias Wako Nyamellel.
The transitional constitution of South Sudan gives the president powers to appoint and remove ministers with or without consultation with the national parliament and council of ministers.
In another development, the president issued an order suspending senior civil servants in his office in relation to the disappearance of 176,000 South Sudanese Pound (SSP) and $14,000 from the presidents office.
The suspended officials, according to the orders, are Yel Luol, an executive director in the office of the president, Mayuen Wol, a personal assistant to the president and Nhomout Agoth Cithiik, the accounts controller in the president’s office.
Kiir, the order says, has also directed the minister for the presidency, Emmanuel LoWilla to assign those who will act and discharge the daily routine work in the president’s office.
Meanwhile, an investigation committee headed by the chairperson of South Sudan’s Anti Corruption Commission (SSACC), John Gatwech Lul, has been established to find out the actual amount of money swindled, and reasons for keeping such a huge amount of public funds in the office, and not in the bank.
Sudan Tribune broke the story on March 27, quoting a senior aide as saying that millions of South Sudan Pounds had been stolen.
The committee, according to the issued order, will summon and investigate all key officials and relevant offices within the presidency and provide recommendation to the president within 30 days.
(ST)