Salva Kiir's New Lobbyists in Washington
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By *Africa Intelligence*,
*As the American* government has distanced itself from South Sudan's*President
Salva Kiir* since the military-political crisis broke out there, the
government in Juba decided to take on the services of two lobbyists in the
United States.
The purpose is to improve Juba's image with the Americans and put its
viewpoint on the negotiations now under way, with African mediation,
between the South Sudan government and former Vice President Riek Machar's
rebel movement.
On 5 March, Minister at the presidency Awan Guol Riak hired the services of
K. Riva Levinson's firm *KRL International* to develop communication
with "the American government, the community of international donors, the
media, NGOs and multilateral institutions" in order to support "The
Republic of South Sudan government's efforts to consolidate peace,
reconciliation and development priorities".
KRL will also have the job of encouraging direct communication between the
American government and Juba.
Ms Levinson is an Africa specialist and is an advisor to Liberia's
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and to the government of Sierra Leone. KRL
is a member of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) and has had a
strategic partnership with Africapractice since 2012.
Separately, on 1 March Jackson Ajou, an executive officer to the South
Sudan government's director general, took on the services of *Podesta
Group* headed
by Kimberley Fritts, to advise Juba on its policy regarding the United
States and help it expand its contacts with the members of Congress, the
press and NGOs. This is a one year contract, costing *$120,000 per
quarter* payable
in advance plus expenses of up to $2000 a month.
Founded by the Democrat strategist *Anthony Podesta*, who has good contacts
in the White House and with the Democratic majority in the Senate, the
Podesta group also acts for other countries in the Horn of Africa.
Last year it won a contract with the government of Somalia and the Central
Bank of Somalia to provide strategic advice and improve links with the
United States.
Received on Fri Mar 14 2014 - 19:34:01 EDT