S. Sudan cabinet agrees to cover hotel charges for officials

November 17, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s cabinet has approved a resolution mandating the ministry of finance to pay over one million South Sudanese pounds (SSP) to clear outstanding hotel charges for senior government officials.

Cabinet agreed to pick up the tab, expected to be at least 13,182,374 SSP, following a meeting on Friday of the Council of Ministers

The circumstances under which the officials sought commercial accommodation remain unclear, although several sources at the ministries of finance and cabinet affairs said the decision was taken for security and protection reasons when violence broke out last year.

However, government officials have been known to be living in various hotels in the capital, Juba, for extended periods, even before the 15 December outbreak of violence.

The officials in question are expected to continue living at the hotels until 25 December.

(ST)