JUBA, South Sudan (AFP) – South Sudan’s ruling party used its huge
majority in parliament to approve a new cabinet Wednesday over
opposition objections that the number of ministers was beyond the
means of the world’s newest nation.The new line-up unveiled by
President Salva Kiir last Friday comprises 29 ministers and 27
deputy ministers.Critics, including some veteran members of the
ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, hit out at the salary
and expenses costs for one of the world’s least developed
countries.SPLM member of parliament Ramadan Hussein complained to
the acting speaker that MPs were being asked to approve the whole
line-up without the opportunity to vet ministers individually,
something he said undermined accountability.”The president and the
speaker mentioned the corrupt people,” Hussein said, alluding to
addresses to the inaugural session of parliament on August 8 by
Kiir and speaker James Wani Igga in which both set the fight
against graft as the new nation’s top priority.But amid chaotic
scenes he was drowned out by points of order from fellow ruling
party MPs before he could press his point.”This is a SPLM way of
doing things,” complained parliamentary opposition leader Onyoti
Adigo.”We had wanted 15 to 20 ministers. But now we have 56 who can
now squander resources,” he told AFP.”Imagine if a minister can get
8,000 South Sudanese pounds (about $3,000) excluding furnishing
offices. How much money will go to salaries and delivery of
services to the poor citizens?”South Sudan, which won recognition
as an independent nation on July 9 after a landslide vote for
secession in a January referendum, has been left in ruins by five
decades of conflict with successive governments in the north.In his
speech to parliament earlier this month, Kiir said the fight
against graft was vital if the new nation was to succeed in
rebuilding.”The people of South Sudan will not sit idly and allow
corruption and abuses of public resources to continue unabated,” he
said. “We must focus on delivery of basic services to meet the
great expectation of our people.”© 2011 AFP