JUBA – The United Nations has issued a scathing report accusing South Sudan's government of rampant corruption, alleging that a small circle of elites has siphoned off vast national wealth, primarily from oil revenues. The report, released by the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, claims that since gaining independence in 2011, the government has generated an estimated $25.2 billion from oil sales, yet essential services like healthcare and education remain critically underfunded.
The UN report asserts that the state has "effectively abdicated its sovereign responsibility" to its people, outsourcing core services like food, medical care, and education to international donors while a few powerful individuals enrich themselves. "Corruption is killing the people of South Sudan," the report emphasizes.
Focus on Specific Cases of Alleged Misappropriation
As a prime example, the UN pointed to the "Petroleum for Roads Program," a key infrastructure project led by construction companies linked to Benjamin Bol Mel, a businessman close to President Salva Kiir who was appointed as one of five vice presidents in February. The report highlights that of the $2.2 billion allocated to the program between 2021 and 2024, the whereabouts of $1.7 billion are "unclear."
This systemic mismanagement is reflected in South Sudan's dire humanitarian and development indicators. The country ranks among the lowest globally in most quality-of-life metrics. One in ten newborns dies during childbirth, and secondary school enrollment stands at a meager 5%. The report notes that while 76 out of 79 counties face severe food insecurity, less than 1% of the 2020-2024 federal budget was allocated to food security. In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, public funds spent on the president's personal medical team exceeded the entire national healthcare budget.
The South Sudanese government, which in December delayed its first-ever presidential and parliamentary elections for two years, citing a lack of funds, dismissed the UN's claims. It argued that the report relies on "unverified information" from journalists and civil society organizations and called the allegations "unsubstantiated."
Political Instability and the Threat of Renewed Conflict
The UN report comes amid heightened fears of renewed civil war as a power-sharing arrangement between President Kiir and his political rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, appears to be collapsing. Machar, who had been under house arrest since late March, was suspended on September 11 after being charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. The government claims Machar supported a March attack by the "White Army" militia in Upper Nile state that killed over 250 government troops, a claim Machar denies.
The political friction between Kiir and Machar previously sparked a civil war in 2013, which left an estimated 400,000 people dead and displaced millions. Although they signed a peace agreement brokered by Ethiopia in September 2018, disagreements over power-sharing delayed the formation of a unity government until February 2020. The current political turmoil, combined with the devastating effects of widespread corruption, paints a bleak picture for the future of the world's newest nation.
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