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I did not say the money was stolen neither I did say $4Bn has been stolen. I said the money has been lost somewhere and someone has to account for it. I have written to 75 former and present gov’t officials. This does not mean that these 75 officials are suspects but they have the responsibility. I will still write to some officials whom I had written to them and now claimed to have not received any letter from my office. I will again write to some more officials whom I did not write to them earlier.” (President Kiir, May 13th, 2012) ( Planet Earth ) The combined forces of determined impunity and endemic corruption are striking back and the once-daring and -forthright President Salva Kiir is beating a hasty retreat on his not-long-ago promise to the South Sudanese people to slay the dragon and to recover the stolen $4 Billion of South Sudan’s national assets. For anyone out there who cares to connect the dots on this war on permeating corruption and entrenched im

UNMISS peace keepers while on duty. [File | UNMIS] JUBA, 14 June 2012 [Gurtong] -The UNMISS mandate was renewed last year just after South Sudan gained her independence from Sudan. President Salva Kiir Mayardit told law makers and the executive Monday that his office has submitted an official recommendation to the UN Security Council on the issue. “In that letter we urged that the conditions for which Chapter Seven mandate was approved have changed and it is not appropriate to renew the UNMISS with the same mandate”, said Kiir. The UNMISS Chapter Seven mandate for South Sudan indicates that the South Sudan government and all relevant parties must cooperate fully in the deployment, operations, and monitoring, verification and reporting functions of UNMISS. It also demands that South Sudan guarantees the safety, security and unrestricted freedom of movement of United Nations personnel as well as of associated personnel throughout the country. It also mandated t

South Sudan's parliament has voted to suspend at least 75 senior officials accused of massive corruption. 14 June 2012 South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit chairs a cabinet forum. [File | Gurtong] JUBA, 13 June 2012 [BBC] - President Salva Kiir sent a letter to the current and ex-government employees, asking them to return at least $4bn (£2.6bn) of stolen money. About $60m has been recovered since the letters were sent out last month, the BBC was told last week. South Sudan became independent last July, but analysts say corruption is already one of its biggest problems. The new nation is also desperately in need of funds after its oil production, which accounts for 98% of revenue, was shut down in an argument with Sudan. 'Betrayed ideals' The MPs said the 75 individuals who had received the president's letter would be suspended until they were convicted or acquitted. The BB

June 14, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan may soon see commencement of implementation of an alternative vital joint oil pipeline project with Kenya that would transport the new nation’s crude oil to the international market and revive its staggering economy. A worker walks at the power plant of an oil processing facility at an oilfield in Unity State April 22, 2012 (Reuters) South Sudan shut down its oil production last January accusing its northern neighbor, Sudan, of stealing its oil which passed through Sudan’s pipelines to its Red Sea Port. Khartoum justified the action, arguing that the new nation which broke away from it in July 2011 had not been paying transit fee. The two sides have not reached an agreement on how much the transit fee should be as Khartoum asked for $36 a barrel while Juba offered over half a dollar per barrel, arguing that this was in accordance with the international practice. South Sudan has exerted efforts to build an alternative oil pipeline

    South Sudan has threatened to reject any resolutions by the African Union and the United Nations if an agreement is not reached within the three stipulated months. 13 June 201       South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit. [File | Gurtong] JUBA, 13 June 2012 [Gurtong] –President Salva Kiir said Monday his government will not accept any African Union (AU) decision backed by the United Nations Security Council that will be considered final and binding with foe Sudan if the conditions are not met. President Kiir said the AU decisions backed by the UNSC appear to be favouring Sudan’s interest, adding that South Sudan will consider any decision on the border without ruling by arbitration in The Hague as biased. “The way things are going Khartoum is being favoured and given the areas that do not belong to them. I personally will not accept such a decision because it will be biased”, President Kiir told lawmakers in Juba at resumption of s

The South Sudan National Assembly (SSNA) has resumed sittings in its second session after a two- months recess. 12 June 2012 The opening of the second session of the South Sudan National Assembly (SSNA) sittings in Juba. [Gurtong] JUBA, 12 June 2012 [Gurtong] - South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit opened the session at a ceremony graced by the legislature, executive, judiciary, civil society and members of the diplomatic corps. President Kiir commended the work done by the August House in the last session and pronounced a number of issues the house should focus on. Among the issues include; speeding up of agricultural production policies, measures to fight corruption, insecurity, health and taxes that comprise non- oil revenues aimed at addressing economic inadequacies in the infant nation. He called upon parliament to be decisive in cutting costs, adding that “the Austerity Measures Commi

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- South Sudanese migrants illegally in Israel were arrested in advance of the deadline of an order requiring them to leave the country. The Population, Immigration, and Borders Authority reportedly arrested eight South Sudanese migrants in Eilat over the weekend. Last week, the authority announced that the migrants illegally in Israel would have one week to turn themselves in and leave the country, with a small grant to help them get started in their home country, or be deported. The deadline was imposed following a June 7 Jerusalem District Court ruling that the migrants could be deported because the lawsuit filed on their behalf failed to prove that they would face "risk to life or exposure to serious damage." Some 1,500 South Sudanese are affected by the ruling. Approximately 60,000 African migrants are living in Israel, and thousands are infiltrating into the country each month through its border with Egypt. Israeli Attorney G