South Sudan commits to joining resource transparency group

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has said that his country is committed to membership of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the global watchdog which promotes good governance of natural resource industries.

Kiir made his declaration on 14th December, at the International Engagement Conference for South Sudan in Washington. His speech focused on the need for good governance in South Sudan, noting the recent passage of a Financial Management and Accountability Act by the South Sudanese parliament. He also said that he had issued a decree “that all senior government officials should declare their resources by the end of January 2012; in absence of which they will be investigated”.

Kiir's stated commitment to good governance is intended to reassure foreign investors, who will be critical to helping kickstart growth in the world's youngest country. Aside from oil, South Sudan has almost no resources and is among the poorest countries of the world. On most human development indicators it is near the bottom of the global rankings.

Tackling corruption and ensuring responsible oversight of the country's one plentiful resource will be essential to propping up development in the years ahead. Graft is widely considered to be entrenched in the government, with funds regularly siphoned off for urgent humanitarian projects. The South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission has made almost no inroads against graft.

President Kiir's regular public condemnation of corruption may not be enough to stem the tide, but it does raise awareness among the South Sudanese people and – just as importantly – convinces his international backers that he is serious about presiding over a clean administration.

His government's steps towards new laws and mechanisms to promote good governance – such as joining the EITI- will be welcomed. The problem, however, is not the laws and regulations themselves but the political will needed to enforce them. It remains to be seen if South Sudan's weak government is able to enforce its president's tough stance against corruption.

Sources: Voice of America, Sudan Tribune