South Sudan: Voter registration in Western Bahr el-Ghazal is moving on more smoothly

From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 30 November 2009:

(Bor) - After experiencing low voter turn-outs and equipment shortages, there has been an increase in the numbers of people registering in Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, according to local officials.

One of the registrars, Madam Colita Aku, told Sudan Radio Service in Wau on Monday that they have enough registration material to complete the exercise.

[Colita Aku]: “The registration exercise in Western Bahr el-Ghazal is moving on more smoothly than before, because initially there was no awareness campaign, people weren't sure what was going on. But now people have realized that it is their right as citizens of the state and of southern Sudan to register for the coming elections. As regards the registration forms; we are sure that we have enough because we ordered more and they should be enough to see us through the remaining seven days of registration.”

Northern Bahr el-Ghazal also ran out of registration forms in all five counties, which led to the suspension of the exercise in the state.

The registration process in southern Sudan has been experiencing logistical problems and low turn-outs since the registration exercise started on November 1.

South Sudan, Western Bahr el-Ghazal: Corruption among top government officials is delaying development in the state

Lino Agustino Adam, the director-general of Public Service and Human Resource Development in Western Bahr el-Ghazal, southern Sudan, is calling on the government to take a lead in fighting corruption in the region.

Report by Sudan Radio Service - SRS:

27 November 2009 - (Wau) - Corruption among top government officials is delaying development in the state, according to Lino Agustino Adam, the director-general of Public Service and Human Resource Development in Western Bahr el-Ghazal.

Agustino says that most offices are occupied by incompetent people, adding that the state is spending money on the salaries of employees who don’t deliver services.

[Lino Agustino Adam]: “You find someone in government telling you that they want their friend or relation to be appointed or employed in some kind of job, without putting the person in the budget. You put them in a job that doesn't suit them. Then they come to you saying, “I am the sister, or I am the son or nephew of His Excellency”. Dressing themselves like a lord, with five pens in their breast pocket and strutting around with a briefcase, when you give them a desk, they cannot work!”

Lino Agustino Adam was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Thursday in Wau.

He is calling on the government to take a lead in fighting corruption in the region.

Sudan Radio Service - SRS new website will be online soon.

South Sudan: 3 police killed in LRA attack on Kor-al Madina village, Western Bahr el Ghazal

From Sudan Radio Service Friday 23 October 2009:
Three Die in LRA Attack on Raja

(Raja) - Three policemen were killed and 21 civilians were abducted following attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Kor-al Madina on Tuesday in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

The commissioner of Raja county, Louis Ramadan Fodul, spoke to Sudan Radio Service from Raja on Friday.

[Louis Ramadan Fodul]: “The LRA attacked Kor al-Madina village. They clashed with the police at the outskirts of the town for one hour, before the police ran out of ammunition. Three police officers were killed when they were trying to withdraw. The LRA reached the town, shooting at civilians, and destroyed the market. About twenty-one people were abducted. Our force, which is in Borro, could not intervene at night because it was raining and up to now they are still running after them, the last information we heard yesterday was that our forces clashed with them but the civilians are still with them and they are heading for the Central African Republic.”

Louis Ramadan Fodul, the commissioner of Raja county, was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Raja in Western Bahr el Ghazal.

Click on Raja label here below to view related report.