CG Juba Round-up - April 30

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001028 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SOCI ECON PINR EPET SU SUBJECT: CG Juba Round-up - April 30 ¶1. CRS Officially Reopens Juba Office: The president of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) worldwide, Ken Hackett, was in Juba this week to officially reopen the CRS office in Juba, closed since 1976. CRS has maintained a continuous presence in Southern Sudan since 1973, but it has been running its programs out of Khartoum and then Nairobi for the past 30 years. At the inauguration of the office, Juba Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro warned all NGOs that they should not spend all their money building compounds for themselves and leave only the scraps to help people, that they should not allow their mission of helping people to be manipulated by local politicians, and that they should take the time to train Sudanese to help with development rather than bringing in foreigners. Before the event, Mr. Hackett met with the Acting Consul General (A/CG),asking about security, CPA progress, and the SPLM's actions in Darfur. A/CG told Mr. Hackett that the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) remained a problem in the South, but ethnic fighting was probably a more serious long-term problem, that the CPA was moving more slowly than anyone wanted, but it was moving, and that the USG has been consistently delivering the message to the SPLM that resolving the Darfur crisis would be in its best interests, because it is drawing attention and resources from the South. ¶2. Fuel Shortages in Juba: With little warning, diesel fuel has become completely unavailable in Juba, threatening NGO, government, and commercial operations and raising prices at the local market. Diesel is normally shipped from the northern port of Kosti by barge, a journey which takes about two weeks. The problem has been compounded by supply problems in Uganda and Kenya, the alternate sources of fuel for the region. While there is reportedly a fuel barge in Torit, it is unclear whether its fuel is destined for Juba and how helpful it will be when it arrives. The UN expects this shortage to last for at least another two weeks. ¶3. Attorney General Joins Legal Affairs Ministry: The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development has now taken over the role of the attorney general's office. As of April 27, Minister Michael Makwei is the GoSS Attorney General, and former Attorney General Majok Mading Majok has become the Under Secretary for Justice. The previous Under Sec retary for Justice, William Bior, has left the government and has entered into private practice. ¶4. Rebecca Garang Moving: The house where Rebecca Garang currently lives belongs to the Government of Southern Sudan, and was the official residence of the head of the Government Coordinating Council when Juba was a garrison town. Garang moved into the house with her husband when he was named President of Southern Sudan, although Rumbek was then being considered for the southern capital. Now that Salva Kiir is president, Garang reportedly plans on leaving once renovations are complete on her new house down the street. The GoSS has not decided what to do with the house once it is empty, as Kiir is reportedly reluctant to take it for fear of appearing to displace the popular Garang forcibly. STEINFELD