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South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures

By James Gatdet Dak

March 27, 2009 (JUBA) – The semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) is to take drastic political and administrative measures to try to curb the looming economic crisis in the region, according to the Spokesperson Gabriel Changson Chang.

In a joint cabinet session on Friday that included Presidential Advisors, Governor of the Bank of Southern Sudan (BoSS) and representatives of the World Bank and Joint Donor Team (JDT), the meeting discussed the negative impact of global financial crisis on the 2009 GoSS budget.

The memo on the financial crisis was presented by the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr. Luka Biong Deng.

Chang, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said the cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit had resolved to constitute a ministerial committee to seriously look into political, economic and administrative issues and to recommend possible measures to the government for action within a week.

Government officials, World Bank and Joint Donor Team representatives described the financial situation in Southern Sudan as “serious.”

The Governor of the Bank of Southern Sudan (BoSS), Elijah Malok Aleng, custodian of GoSS money, presented a statement on the status of the balance of money left in the Bank.

He indicated that the Bank is almost empty; its money depleted and described the situation as “alarming and worrying.”

The Bank of Southern Sudan, which is the branch of the Khartoum-based Central Bank of Sudan (CBS), serves as the central bank for the semi-autonomous region and keeps or manages all the finances of GoSS.

Malok, who is also the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sudan, blamed the situation partly on financial irregularities by senior government officials.

He said some senior government officials used to cash cheques in the Bank with very huge “suspicious” sums of money over the years for reasons which were not justifiable.

GoSS is currently embarking on Public Service Reform spearheaded by the Minister of Public Service and Human Resource Development, Awut Deng Acuil.

In a move seen as a step forward to punish corrupt officials, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) this week passed the long awaited Anti-Corruption Act, which has now given the needed legal powers to the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the culprits for possible prosecutions.

Thousands of accumulated files of corruption cases have been sitting for years in the Commission waiting for the law to come out since 2006.

Malok also said Nile Commercial Bank (NCB), which is a newly established private commercial bank in Southern Sudan, is already in financial crisis and on the verge of total collapse.

He also warned that the few other private banks in Southern Sudan may soon follow suit.

Aggrey Sabuni Tisa, Undersecretary for Planning in the GoSS Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning explained that GoSS, which mostly depends on oil revenue, has not received its arrears of the revenue from the Government of National Unity (GoNU).

GoNU which is also affected by the economic crisis does not release GoSS’ share of oil revenue which accounts for 93% of its 2009 budget.

Tisa explained that GoNU owes GoSS a total of 578 million Sudanese pounds (about $280mln) arrears since 2008.

He added that GoNU has also unilaterally decided to deduct 15 million Sudanese pounds per month from the GoSS share of oil revenue to finance the upcoming general elections.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Kuol Athian Mawien, last month warned that the 2009 GoSS budget of 3.66 billion Sudanese pounds was a deficit budget with uncertain projections in its revenue sources.

Tisa also described the situation as serious and highlighted a number of possible scenarios that the government may face and to overcome in light of the situation.

World Bank and Joint Donor Team pledged to assist the government out of the serious financial crises, but wanted to first see the government’s action in response to the situation.

They warned of drop in food imports from the neighboring countries to Southern Sudan because of overall global economic crisis which can also result to increase of prices on food commodities, etc.

Oil prices have dropped from $147/barrel in July 2008 to less than $50/barrel since February 2009.

It is not clear what type of measures the government will take, but are expected to include considerable cut down on expenditures across its various organs, levels, sectors or units.

(ST)

21 Comments

  • Jayo
    Jayo

    Corruption Corruption Corruption!!!!
    South Sudanese will never forgive this government for its corruption and ineffectiveness.All this mess fall on the shoulders of all GOSS senior officials.They squander public money with impunity.They don’t account for their inaction or bad action.

    The solutions are obvious and clear:hold corrupt leaders accountable,have oversight over government fund,kick out inefficient workers and finally remove the ghost employees from government paylist.

    I also wonder why agriculture sector is not working.Why is South Sudan totally depending on Kenya and Uganda for basic food stuffs like vegetables and maize?You guys should propose some measures that will make South Sudanese people atleast self-reliance.

    Reply
  • Mr Network
    Mr Network

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    Choas!or else death!

    GoSS are in serious alams due to divert of public fund for personnel use with lawless law.There is clear rule that the Minister who have missuse the puplic fund has to face consequence and they are not take accountable for it what do espect very big deficts .Southeren Sudan will not progress due the tribalism,corruption,due to employing wrong person to the wrong position because of the fellow mighty be his or her own family affairs,in-law,tribeman or woman,ethnic group etc.
    What so call ant-Corruption commission are just for political position created for food not to protect the public interest and GoSS has reverse that angle properly before it reaches from good to bad and from bad to worse.

    Reply
  • AUGUSTINO DENG
    AUGUSTINO DENG

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    These Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan have already deserves what they wants and that is why they tried to take an initiative about the economic crisis. Knowing that they have tranquilizing their problems by investing themselves with what they needs.

    Anyway, there is time for everything. Time for leadership, time for corruptions and time for development. I really blame all the Ministers starting from Salva Kiir Miyardit, his vice president Dr Riek Machar Teny and the rests of the other Ministers in Southern Sudan Parliament.

    Reply
  • Hillary B.M.L,M
    Hillary B.M.L,M

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    They are realizing their wrongs or Negative performances, yet could not help.
    The only Solution is CHANGE, because those who come in the Bush proved to be incapable to manage public affairs in Southern Sudan properly with the exception of Military Wing should be under them. who ever come in the Bush need to be Brain washed from Military management oriented minds to Civilians management orientation.

    Reply
  • postmortem
    postmortem

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    Leaders who want to stay longer in power and leave real legacies will always go by priorities as soon as they come to power. For Southern Sudan, it is the opposite. ” We have fought so we deserve to loot without question” after all we appointed ourselvels through tribalism, maternalism, uncleism, nephewism, paternalism, favouritism,thiefism, corruptism name it after using your method of data collection in research methodology known as observation method.

    World leaders come into power with reforms, right people in right places to lay a foundation for long term stealing without being noticed by my grandfather in Wanjok. How does the government of Southern Sudan convince my old man that the financial crisis in Southern Sudan is caused by the global financial recession and not the rampant corruption in Southern Sudan?

    The excitement that the government has taken when it came to power was destined to serious crisis. WE expect serious hunger, floods, diseases, instability because of these financial melt down.

    When on the 8/8/2005 Salva Kiir addressed the crowed in Juba at Buluk police grounds, he said ” I will cut the hands of those who will pocket public money”. The peasants chanted and cheered the president for at least they had one who will curb corruption and channel public funds to real services for the people. To day, they will only be hearing words like financial melt down beginning from the western world which terms they do not understand.

    For sure, let the government wake up, pay the salaries of soldiers to guarrantee security, stop mass rural urban migration so that the work force can continue with agriculture. I have never seen a government encouraging peasants to resettle in towns. Leave towns for white collar jobs seekers and let the peasants go about their business of agriculture, rearing animals etc. Only all they need is security of their cattle and crops. They will be self reliant.Remember, you can live without soap or salt but you cannot live without food.

    We have enough revenue from our entry points but the government has left this revenue to individuals to eat this money and government gets less. You are busy reshuffling ministers, governors for nothing. Reshuffle those guys at the border and make a trial by bringing new people to see the flow of revenue for you to make comparison. You could also make routine of moving revenue officers from one station to another so that they do not get used to the area and make dirty deals.

    Restructure the government and try educated people to see if there will be a change otherwise we are headed for a disaster.

    Reply
  • Malou Manyiel
    Malou Manyiel

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    The serious financial crisis in South Sudan is not only due to the drop of oil prices since the GOSS is depending on 50% oil revenues. The biger part is the corruptions of all kinds being practices by all GOSS ministers including the presidency. The toothless Anti-corruption Commission is just accepting bribery instead of bringing those suspected to have misused and diverted fund into their depth and greedy pockets to book.

    They may hide themselves but they will never hide themselves from God. One day one time God will book them and the suffering of all Southern Sudanese will be upon their necks.

    Oh God! help us! Our leaders have forgotten.

    Reply
  • Gatwech
    Gatwech

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    Oh, no!!!

    The government is bankrupt or failed. How did this happen under the watch of the President? Hey, Mr. Elijah Malok, are you exposing your incompetence or what? How come you knew that people were withdrawing millions of dollars from personal checks and you did not refuse to sign the checks? You should have refused and informed the President, Salva Kiir about what was going on in your bank. Or if it is Salva Kiir signing the checks, you should have told him black and white that the practice was corrupt and would result to the situation your government has finally found itself in. If the President refused, you should have resigned from your position as Governor of the Bank so that you are clean from the mess.

    By signing the check which are suspicious, Mr. Elijah Malok, approved the corruption, and I believe you are one of those who cashed those huge checks. I also urge you to testify before parliament since you know every name of senior official that has cashed a huge check for personal use. Salva Kiir should fire this incompetent Malok. And let him give the full list of those who cashed checks through his approval to the parliament in Juba and to anti-corruption body. What an incompetent tribal administration. What a shame!!!

    Reply
  • Lello
    Lello

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    I am gladed I read an article last week that Southern Parliament eventually gave the authority to corruption committee.It been a long time for corruption to breeding. I been wondered what took southern president so long upto this time to taking care of corruption. I think this pesident has been overwhelmimg with happyness of being president of southern sudan for first time ever and not hit ground running.

    Reply
  • mr x
    mr x

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    hallo everybody let me tell you guys some words Southern Sudan is not like another countrie you guys are living in,if i give one of you they President of south you will run away at the same time. but you guys are always talk about president where is mr kiir and why he took long time but you do,nt known that president is like a person who had marrige more than hunder wifes he can not understanding at one time which one of them can be a thife so please guys reluncy and wait for your time so that you can mangement those crise and thanks all of you

    Reply
  • James Ayuel
    James Ayuel

    South Sudan in “serious” financial crisis, govt takes measures
    May the blood of our patrots, our freedom fighters, so called fallen heroes looks upon these greedy officials. Mr. Malok mentioned that ” some senior government officials used to cash ceques with very huge sums of money” we all knows who they are, and if they have sense of humanity they will stop pushing the poor families to the death-row. It’s not A tribal leaders case, it’s a top government officials that’re turning Southern Sudan economic into meltdown crisis. Moreover, narrow-minded writters, please stop pointing figures on particular tribe.This struggle is not merely an analytical response to a particular political problem – it is not a game of ideological chess. Nor is it undertaken with scant concern for the theory, practice and experience of struggle – a well-meant, but reckless, endeavour to do something good. It is, instead, a struggle driven by a passion for justice, guided by a clear understanding of the strategy and tactics most able to bring about fundamental change.

    Such a struggle change was possible because of the generosity of the freedom fighters or fallen heroes such as John Garang, Anyir Apiu, Peter Panorm, George Kage, fracnse Ngor, Nyachengak, Majok Mac and many others, now where’s other tribes men in the list of fallen heroes? and the passion with which they pursued was because of the people by giving their own lives to paid off the heavy bandon of oppression. Now it is impossible because of some freedom fighters’ selflessness and their ability to endure hardship and make personal sacrifices have turn into ownership by packeting huge sums of money and forget the gravist families that lost their sons during civil war, maybe seven to eight sons from the same mother have died in the duty of serving their country. shame…shame to those leaders

    That is why, today, now, in southern Sudan, and in this southern society, we need freedom fighters like Dr. Late John Garang to guide us along through this oppression from own brothers.

    We need leader who will be generous of leadership, be deeply concerned about the suffering of others, struggle against all forms of injustice, and be prepared to make sacrifices to further the cause of the people. It’s time for the blood of brothers who have died in wartime to uprise and care on the action against those individuals who are misusing the identity of Dinka as whole. we fought and we died to liberate our southern brothers from the bandon of slavers, and that’s what Dinka are known for Freedom fighters and Caregivers. By Leekdengson

    Reply
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