A senior official has revealed that the consultant, whose consultancy was responsible for the construction of the terminal at Juba International Airport, persuaded some staff members in the Ministry of Finance and Planning to pay the contractor through her account before disappearing.
On Monday, Madut Biar Yel, Minister of Transport, revealed to the parliamentarian the severe setbacks surrounding the construction of the long-delayed terminal at Juba International Airport.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) originally financed the project, but controversy, mismanagement, and missing funds have caused delays.
Biar stated that the government's diversion of the African Development Bank Fund, intended to upgrade the country's airport terminal to international standards, initiated the construction challenges. The diversion of funds caused the bank to stop funding the terminal's construction.
"That terminal was built with the funding from the African Development Bank. I met the people of the African Development Bank. Why are you not continuing with the funding? They told me, 'We paid money two times, and that money was diverted by the government’,’’ Biar explained.
The minister admitted that the root of the problem lies with the government.
"That is because of our making, not the funder," he clarified, adding that they are now looking for internal means to finance the project.
"Now we want actually to fund it ourselves because we cannot get more money from the African Development Bank," he continued.
Within the misappropriated government fund, the project saw a breakdown in communication between the consultant and the contractor.
A foreign consultant, initially hired to oversee the project, indulged in a conflict of interest by assuming a contractor’s role—causing delays and financial disputes.
"A foreign consultant, which was actually doing the work. They have differences also with the contractor. The consultant worked around to influence some of the staff from the minister of finance so that the contractor is paid through the account of the consultant," Biar stated.
“The consultant herself became a contractor within the same building. So, there is a legal issue there, a conflict of interest. I called the consultant because she went around and got the contract to bring the gadgets and equipment that are going to be installed in that building, and it was allowed to get that contract. She brought equipment that is now obsolete, and she went away with the money," Biar disclosed.
In response to the situation, the minister said legal actions have been initiated.
“Now our legal people down there are working on it to bring that consultant to come and ask, 'Why are you are a consultant and now you become a contractor?'"
Despite these challenges, the government is pushing forward with plans to fund the terminal's completion and bring the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority into full operation.
"We are working on it so that it is the government to get money to complete the building, and then we operate like any other through the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority,” Biar said.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, responded to the minister’s revelations, expressing disbelief and frustration over the handling of the project.
“Honorable minister, on your explanation about the terminal and those justifications, I don't think there is anyone here who is convinced. Because we are a government. There is no way a consultant or contractor can hold the government project hostage,” Nunu stated aggressively.
Nunu emphasized that the government has the power and legal tools to recover the stolen funds.
“If a contractor or consultant took money and disappeared with it, these days we are living in a global village. You can sue that person and get that person through Interpol to account for the money of the country,” she urged.
The speaker further questioned the steps taken by successive ministers of transport since the project began, stressing that such mismanagement has damaged the country's reputation. She called on the current Minister of Transport to resolve the issue promptly.
“So please, the House expects you during your time to solve this problem, or the Parliament will intervene. Because honestly, you cannot say, oh, contractor is the one holding this,” Hon. Nunu argued.
“Saying, oh, a consultant, became a contractor, took the money, threw it in her account, and so on. Who paid the money? It is the government, right? So please, follow up on that. Minister of Finance and you, you need to sort out this issue."
She emphasized that, “It's about the image of the country. You cannot have a project for over 10 years.”
The construction of the new terminal at Juba International Airport, which was launched by President Salva Kiir in 2014, was supposed to be completed by the Chinese Harbour Engineering Company by 2017.
