GNU REIMBURSES GOSS $52 MILLION FOR UNAUTHORIZED DEDUCTIONS

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000924

DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A/S CARSON, AF/E
NSC FOR MGAVIN
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EPET EFIN ECON UNSC SU
SUBJECT: GNU REIMBURSES GOSS $52 MILLION FOR UNAUTHORIZED DEDUCTIONS
FROM OIL REVENUE

REF: A) KHARTOUM 806


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government of National Unity (GNU) has
reimbursed the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) the equivalent of
USD 52 million for unauthorized deductions from its share of oil
revenues, as agreed to at the July 21 Trilateral talks in
Washington. GOSS Petroleum Commission Director, Yousif Ramadan,
provided documentation of the transaction to Econoff in a meeting on
August 4. Ramadan also credited the Trilateral talks with opening
the door for a team from the GOSS Auditor General to conduct audits
at the GNU Ministry of Energy and Mining, Ministry of Finance, and
Central Bank. With regard to the Permanent Court of Arbitration's
July 22 ruling on Abyei, Ramadan noted that he and the rest of the
Joint Technical Committee on Oil Accounts are still awaiting
guidance from the parties on how to proceed. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Meeting with Econoff on August 4, Ramadan stated that GNU
has reimbursed the GOSS for unauthorized deductions from its share
of oil revenue for the amount of 117.39 million Sudanese pounds
(approximately $52 million). He provided documentation that the
funds, which had been deducted from GOSS' share of oil revenues to
pay for national elections, were transferred on July 27. Ramadan
said the issue was effectively resolved at the June 21 Trilateral
Talks in Washington.


3. (SBU) Ramadan also reported that Juba has sent a team from the
GOSS Auditor General to Khartoum to audit GNU offices dealing with
wealth sharing: the Ministry of Energy and Mining, the Ministry of
Finance and National Economy, and the Central Bank of Sudan. Ramadan
stated that the GOSS auditors have been granted full access
throughout, which he credited to high level instructions given
following the Trilateral Talks.


4. (SBU) Asked about the impact of the July 22 PCA Decision on Abyei
on oil revenue sharing, Ramadan reported that neither he nor the
rest of the Joint Technical Committee on Oil Accounts have been
given instructions on how to proceed. While the Joint Technical
Committee meets regularly, Ramadan lamented that the National
Petroleum Commission, the high level entity charged with reviewing
contracts and otherwise providing transparency and oversight of the
sector, is completely dormant. "I can't remember the last time they
met," he remarked.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: Reimbursement of the elections funds is welcome
news and further evidence of the ability of the Trilateral Forum to
achieve tangible results. To our knowledge, neither party reached
out to share this information proactively with either the EMBASSY or
S/USSES, emphasizing the need for robust monitoring mechanisms to
track all future progress emanating from the Trilateral talks. END
COMMENT.

WHITEHEAD