Prosecute corrupt officials, UN tells South Sudan President Kiir
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By Julius N. Uma
September 28, 2011 (JUBA) - The UN’s special representative to South
Sudan, Hilde F. Johnson, on Wednesday urged the new country’s
president Salva Kiir to ensure that those implicated in corruption are
thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
JPEG - 47.4 kb
Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and
Head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan
(UNMISS), speaks to journalists. 28 September 2011 (Photo UN)
“It is unacceptable when money devoted to developing the new and
independent South Sudan ends up in private pockets and foreign bank
accounts. [But] with the actions the president is now taking, he is
ending impunity for the individuals involved,” Johnson, who just
returned from the UN General Assembly meeting, said.
Such anti-corruption moves, she told journalists, are the
preconditions for South Sudan to succeed in building a new, strong and
stable nation. Johnson also urged South Sudanese to put the country
above any individual interests.
In his message delivered by the vice-president last week, president
Kiir reiterated new government’s policy of a zero tolerance for
corruption, saying his new administration will focus on good
governance, democracy, accountability and transparency.
South Sudan seceded in July as part of a 2005 peace deal which ended a
conflict that had raged - with a 11 year break (1972-1983) - since
1955, a year Sudan’s independence.
Despite being one of South Sudan’s most critical problems since it
gained self-rule in 2005 no official has ever been prosecuted for
corruption, despite a commission being appointed to investigate graft.
Johnson called upon the international community to assist the Republic
of South Sudan in implementing its development plans. She specifically
appealed for countries like Switzerland, the UK, the US and Australia
to help South Sudan recover and repatriate funds that had been
diverted by corrupt officials.
“The engagement by the Legislative Assembly and civil society,
requesting additional actions against corruption, is positive. To win
the fight against corruption, all parts of society need to engage,”
she emphasised.
The UN Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) also
lauded President Kiir’s historic first address to the General Assembly
on behalf of Africa’s newest nation, describing it as the “right
message at the right time”.
“The president has clearly shown commitment to peaceful relations with
neighbouring north [Sudan] aimed at establishing a solid foundation
for the new nation, based on political pluralism, good governance,
transparency and accountability,” Johnson said.
The head of the UN in South Sudan further appealed to the southern
leadership to ensure that both the Political Parties Act and the
Electoral Act, which are due to be discussed in parliament, are
subjected to extensive consultations with all political parties in the
country.
“This commitment also needs to be reflected in protecting political
space, and respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms of all
political actors in the country,” the SRSG added.
The country’s leaders, she reiterated, should also review and regulate
policies governing land sales, describing it as a fundamental approach
towards reducing inter-communal tensions.
(ST)
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