Paul Wolfowitz has given an exclusive interview to the BBC World Service to try to explain why he is leaving the World Bank. He says the media and an overheated atmosphere were to blame, and uses his airtime to justify his record at the Bank in general and on the Riza affair. He refuses to be drawn on how his successor should be chosen but agrees that African countries are “under-represented” at the Bank. Continue reading →

Reuters is reporting that South Africa is pushing the US to abide by an agreement of the Group of 20 economic powers for an open and transparent appointment of the new head of the World Bank. Continue reading →

The Staff Association, which has emerged as the Bank’s own “civil society” has circulated Managing Director Graeme Wheeler’s strong and sensitive statement to the Bank Board’s Personnel Committee. Beyond highlighting the huge emotional cost the Wolfowitz Situation imposed on Bank staff, it hints at a few short-term changes that must be made in important personnel and policy processes. These are: the reporting relationship of the Bank’s Institutional Integrity Department, and the selection process for the next Vice President, Human Resources. Both are thought to have been captured by Wolfowitz cronies. Continue reading →

Wrote the four House Chairmen in a letter to Bush, released today and reported by Reuters. According to them,“The nominee should be deeply committed to American values, but need not have an American address. The global pool of talent is deep, and we should make it clear that the United States believes that the best nominee could come from anywhere,” the Democratic congressmen said. Continue reading →

In an Op-Ed article published this morning by the International Herald Tribune; Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, former Finance and Foreign Minister of Nigeria, writes in defense of the Bank and its staff. Continue reading →