Kiir urged to ‘rescue’ citizens from ‘corrupt’ finance minister 

JUBA – A local corruption watchdog in South Sudan is appealing to President Salva Kiir Mayardit to removed the country’s minister of finance, Athian Diing Athian, who the watchdog described as corrupt who has been diverting public funds into personal coffers.

The South Sudan Anti-Corruption Forum said the finance minister who has been in office for less than a year need to be removed to rescue the suffering people of South Sudan who the body said are paying for the minister’s corrupt practices.

“SSACF is calling upon you as our beloved President to rescue your citizens from the hand of this corrupt minister. it is only you who will help your citizens, how can he continue sleeping in hotels to enjoy this country’s resources when your citizens are dying without salaries and no medical assistance for those who are sick,” the body said in a statement extended to Sudans Post.

The statement said the minister has banned the use of public hard currency from other government institutions where they are supposed to be used to import of commodities that are important in light of the current economic situation in the country.

“Hon. Athian Diing Athian, the Minister of Finance and Planning has employed an anti-economic growth policy banning payment of hard currency to all government institutions who contracted suppliers bringing in commodities for our citizens despite the fact that these institutions are dealing with foreign companies who only accept disbursement of their money in foreign currencies,” the statement said.

“Which country on earth whose suppliers import all of these important commodities from abroad paying foreign currency and expect to be  paid in local currency in light of this economic parameters of hyperinflation?” the group asked.

The group urged President Salva Kiir Mayardit to direct the minister of finance to discard that policy of paying importers in local currency while he works to replace him saying several lives will be put at risk if the South Sudanese head of state do not remove the minister.

“This minister knows nothing for economic reforms, demands, supply and transformation that he alleges to be spearheading. He proposed the most dangerous policy ever enacted to outlaw payment in hard currency to  all government contractors and suppliers which usually supply vehicles, various food commodities, pharmaceutical entities and both hard and soft ware suppliers,” it said.

“We are therefore appealing to you and your beloved government to give directives to honorable minister of finance and planning to quickly reverse that particular order as soon as possible because he has proven to South Sudanese that he lacks knowledge to run the ministry in sounding manner because of that policy,” the statement added.