ABYEI CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR FIRED FOR ALLEGED CORRUPTION

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000034 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SU SUBJECT: ABYEI CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR FIRED FOR ALLEGED CORRUPTION REF: A) 09 KHARTOUM 1401 ¶1. (SBU) Khartoum media reported on January 6 that Abyei Chief Administrator Arop Moyak Monytoc (SPLM),as well as the Abyei Administration's directors of Finance, Agriculture, and Infrastructure, had been fired for alleged corruption. A relatively minor political figure, Deng Arop Kuol (SPLM),Chair of the Legal Committee of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA),was appointed as Monytoc's replacement. It is likely that Kuol will be a more effective Administrator than Monytoc, who was rarely in Abyei and was not productive when he was there (Ref A). -------------- Corrupt, or Out of Friends? -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On January 6, Khartoum media reported that Omar el Bashir, President of the Government of Sudan (GoS),issued a presidential degree relieving Arop Moyak Monytoc of his position as Abyei's Chief Administrator, as well as the Abyei Administration's directors of Finance, Agriculture, and Infrastructure. The actions were taken as a result of alleged corruption. Bashir appointed Deng Arop Kuol, the Chair of Legal Committee of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA),as Monytoc's replacement. ¶3. (SBU) An SPLM source told Emboff that Bashir fired Monytoc and the Administration's directors at the behest of First Vice President of National Unity Salva Kiir for executing a road construction contract without the required sign-off from the GoSS Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development. (Note: In a January 6 telephone conversation with Poloff, David Raikow, United Nations Mission in Sudan political officer, noted that Monytoc's ineffective leadership and inflammatory statements had caused officials in both parties to lose patience with him. The corruption charges, while potentially merited, may therefore have simply been a catalyst or an excuse to remove him. End Note.) -------------- Uncontroversial Replacement -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Deng Arop Kuol, a lawyer by training, is the Chair of the SSLA Legal Committee. In a January 6 telephone conversation with Poloff, Raikow characterized Kuol as an uncontroversial choice with limited political capital, installed as a caretaker. However, Kuol is reportedly a cousin of and maintains close family relations with GoNU Foreign Minister Deng Alor (SPLM) and GoSS Minister of Presidential Affairs Luka Biong Deng (SPLM),connections that possibly could provide him with increased influence. ¶5. (SBU) Comment. Arop Moyak Monytoc was rarely in Abyei and had a reputation for increasing, rather than defusing, tensions in the region. His removal is overdue and unlikely to be mourned by GoNU officials or the people of Abyei. There is reason to hope that Kuol will be a more effective Administrator. Charge met with Kuol on January 7, as reported septel. End Comment. WHITEHEAD