South Sudan, the world's newest country, has pledged to tackle the culture of corruption and prosecute corrupt public officials. On 7th September the National Legislative Assembly adopted a report submitted by the country's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) which revealed the misuse of millions of Sudanese pounds by government agencies.
The government of President Salva Kiir has made rooting out corruption one of the new nation's top priorities, although opposition figures have accused his new Cabinet of being symptomatic of the problem.
In its report, the ACC announced that it had investigated cases pertaining to 12 million Sudanese pounds (US$4.49 million) which were embezzled or misused by government ministries, which it did not name. Cases pertaining to another 6 million Sudanese pounds were referred to other anti-corruption agencies.
These are significant sums in a country in which 51 per cent live below the poverty line. The ACC has its work cut out. The commission's chair, Pauline Riak, also set out the challenges facing the agency – chiefly a lack of adequate funding. Kiir acknowledged in August that the ACC and related anti-corruption agencies did not have sufficient qualified personnel or technical capabilities.
It seems that Kiir is serious about tackling what he refers to as the “cancer of corruption”. He has repeatedly said that theft of much-needed funds had inhibited the country's fragile development, and has encouraged his ministries to fight graft.
In particular the Interior Ministry under Alison Magaya Manoni has made tackling corruption within the police force one of its top priorities. On 6th September Manoni said that much greater attention would be devoted to investigating officers who extort money from citizens, as part of a wider process of reforming and improving the country's nascent police force.
However critics have suggested that Kiir should look closer to home in his battle against misuse of funds. His new Cabinet, approved on 31st August, comprises 29 ministers and 27 deputy ministers, each of whom receives a generous salary and expenses. Opposition leaders have complained that this is inappropriate for such a poor state.
An additional challenge, highlighted by Riak in her remarks to the legislature, is enforcing a requirement for government officials to declare their assets. To date, many have failed to do so. Without first cleaning his own house, Kiir may find it difficult to begin tackling the wider problem of corruption in the public sphere.
Sources: AFP, allAfrica, Sudan Tribune
No comments:
Post a Comment